Dallas County residents who qualify for COVID-19 in Phases 1A and 1B can register online for inoculation, the county health department announced on Saturday.
Online registration and pre-screening are for people to be vaccinated through health and human services in Dallas County, not for all health care providers in the county.
Health officials said supplies of vaccines on Saturday were limited, but expected more doses “in the coming weeks and months.”
“Currently, this DCHHS site will only enroll Dallas County residents and priority in 1B will be given to those with the highest vulnerability scores until more vaccine is available,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. in a statement. In the meantime, we are working with the DFW Hospital Council and others to increase equitable and rapid vaccinations nationwide.
Click here to register and find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine. Phases 1A and 1B are set by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“As more vaccine becomes available, we will go through the registration list and determine eligibility. We look forward to receiving additional allocations from the state soon so we can continue to work with our partners and begin to meet the needs of our community and turn the corner in the fight against this virus, “said Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang said in a statement.
The launch of the COVID-19 vaccine continued this weekend across the country, as health leaders work to inoculate as many people as willing and qualified online.
Vaccination efforts for the first respondents resumed Saturday at the Kay Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. This week, the city began large-scale vaccinations for top respondents in the Dallas Fire-Rescue, Dallas Police Department and Dallas City Marshals, after receiving 2,000 doses of the Modern State vaccine.
“Right now, as we go through the process, we’re learning how to do it perfectly,” said Dallas Fire Chief Dominique Artis. “This is the beginning of the way out of this dark tunnel. We can see the light. We’re just trying to come to light now. “
Department spokesman Jason Evans said he expects to complete the first allocation by Tuesday or Wednesday. So far there have been no significant operational challenges, Evans said.
“We administered it to the first line health workers in group 1A. So we don’t have a vaccine right now, “Jenkins said. “We still have 1As to get, but we’re trying to develop a system that will open it to 1B as well.”
In Dallas County, the DCHHS allowance was not open to people considered to be in the ‘1B’ group, which includes people aged 65 and over, plus 16 and older with at least one chronic health condition. However, some entities, such as certain hospitals and medical practices, have already started offering vaccines to those in group 1B.
When widespread access to 1B will be available across the county is difficult to measure at this time, Jenkins said.
“It depends on how big the allocation is. This will continue to improve. CVS, Walgreens and others do not yet have the capabilities to take 1B off the street, but that will happen soon, “he said.” There will be those opportunities to get 1B. My hope is this weekend or maybe Monday, that Dallas County Health and Human Services will get a website so you can get on a waiting list with us. “
Going further, he said he believes there needs to be better communication between the state and hospitals. For the time being, he urges people to remain vigilant with COVID-19 protocols and to be patient as vaccination efforts increase.
“It doesn’t mean we have to be patient and sit on the couch and wait for someone else, but we have to be patient and realize you’re trying to shoot their grandparents, but 30 million Texans are trying to get their grandmother shot. and he, ”he said.
* Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not intended to indicate where infected people actually live.
** County totals below include all 32 North Texas counties, not just Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant.