Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called on state health officials and hospitals to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine supplies in response to a letter from the state health commissioner stating that much of the state’s supply has not yet been administered. .
In a tweet Tuesday, Abbott wrote that it is unacceptable for many doses of vaccine to be “placed on hospital shelves, unlike the administration of vulnerable Texans” and added that Texas “urges vaccine providers to provide all photos quickly.”
“We get a lot more every week,” he said.
A significant portion of vaccines distributed in Texas could be on hospital shelves, as opposed to administering vulnerable Texans.
The state urges vaccine providers to provide all photos quickly. We get a lot more every week
Always volunteer https://t.co/jjY0jbEMsx
– Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 29, 2020
His tweet came in response to a letter from the state’s Department of Emergency Management from state health commissioner John Hellerstedt, who wrote this week that a “significant portion” of the state’s vaccination offer has not yet been made. distributed.
“We also know that every day a vaccine is on the shelf is another day that prolongs the pandemic that is hampering the economy and way of life of our state,” Hellerstedt continued, adding: “We are confident that you know your situation much better. better than we can, so please take the initiative and move forward aggressively with all the doses of vaccine you have received. “
.@TexasDSHS directs all entities that have received # COVID-19 vaccines for the urgent vaccination of all persons in phase 1A, then in phase 1B.
“… we direct all entities to which the vaccine has been allocated to administer their entire allocation at full deliberate speed.” pic.twitter.com/98JqrzvvzK
– Texas Emergency Management Division (@TDEM) December 24, 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak in Texas continues to worsen. State officials on Tuesday reported 26,990 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highest total ever recorded by the state, while also setting a record for new hospitalizations in a single day after the virus.
Health experts have warned that hospital systems across the country could be stressed beyond capacity in the coming weeks due to a wave of COVID-19 infections resulting from the holiday season.