Frontline city workers receive coronavirus vaccine when 6,000 doses arrive at Houston Fire Department

HOUSTON – Some of the first frontline workers for the city of Houston will receive their coronavirus vaccines Monday after 6,000 doses arrive at the Houston Health Department and the Houston Fire Department.

Dr. Stephen Williams, director of HHD, said the first shots will go to the 260 employees who qualify for Phase 1A. He said the health department is also preparing to administer the vaccine to 365 school nurses in both the Houston and Pearland school districts.

Houston fire chief Sam Peña said paramedics will be the first people in his unit to receive the vaccine. Peña said more than 50% of firefighters said they were interested in receiving the vaccine. He said support staff will be part of the Phase 1B rollout.

More than 400 firefighters have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began. Three firefighters died. Peña said a firefighter went to the emergency room with breathing problems on Monday and tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. David Persse, chief medical officer for Houston, said that while the vaccine is still limited to people in stages 1A and 1B, it will eventually be rolled out to wider segments of the public.

“If you get the chance, feel comfortable,” Persse said. “Get vaccinated.”

On Monday, Harris County Public Health will administer doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to those eligible for Phase 1A. The HCPH has notified local partners supporting eligible Phase 1A individuals and is already providing vaccinations to medical personnel.

The news of the extra doses in Houston came when new cases of the virus were reported in Houston.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said an additional 765 cases were reported on Monday, bringing the city’s total to 116,043. An additional death was reported, bringing the total death toll in the city to 1,544.

Turner said the positivity rate rose to 11.6% Monday, almost half a point higher than last week.

With just three days to go in 2020, Houston officials urged people to keep their meetings small.

Turner said people should cancel all New Year’s Eve gatherings that require people to gather in large numbers.

The mayor said he doesn’t have the resources for police bars and parties, but he is asking people to take personal responsibility in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

“We keep asking people to recognize that when you get close to each other in large numbers without your mask on, you create a really bad environment,” said Turner.

Officials also reminded people not to drink and drive and that fireworks and festive gunfire are banned in Houston.