Hospitals and other facilities that have received COVID-19 vaccines are reminded to administer their entire allocation at “full deliberate speed,” according to a letter from the Texas Department of Health Services.
Texas DSHS Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt’s letter stated that there may be “unnecessary delays” in administering all allocated vaccines and reporting these doses to the state’s immunization registry, ImmTrac2.
“The purpose of this letter is to reiterate that we direct all entities to which the vaccine has been allocated to administer their entire allocation at full deliberate speed. Keep in mind that more vaccines will be delivered in the coming days, weeks and months. Now is the time to vaccinate willing individuals, “Hellerstedt wrote.
Based on data reported to ImmTrac2, it has become clear that a significant portion of the Texas vaccine may not be administered yet. We know you have good reasons why this has happened in some cases – but we also know that every day a vaccine is on the shelf is another day that prolongs the pandemic that is hampering our state’s economy and way of life. ” he added.
The letter continued to call for opportunity and a sense of urgency, especially as it refers to those who are willing to receive the vaccine and are qualified to do so at this time. In Texas, people in phase 1A and phase 1B are among those who will receive the first.
Phase 1A includes health workers and first responders, while Phase 1B covers people aged 65 and over. Phase 1B also includes people 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic condition who are at increased risk of severe disease caused by the virus that causes COVID-19,
“You do not need to make sure that all your 1A groups have been vaccinated before you start 1B vaccinations. If, in any given situation, all readily available and willing persons 1A and 1B have been served, we urge you to pivot again and offer the vaccine to any additional available and willing persons, regardless of their priority name. Each shot dealt problems, “Hellerstedt wrote.
At the Wise Health System in Decatur, the hospital reported all 1,165 doses administered within six days.
“We had no expectations in this process of being able to offer the vaccine to as many first aid groups or even the public, but with extra doses in vials, we were able to protect our community beyond the walls of our hospital,” he read. on Facebook. “We know that the clinic for over 65 years did not go as well as we would have liked. The decision was made to deliver the vaccine to this critical age group on Tuesday morning and it was implemented in less than 24 hours. “
According to the Wise Health System, they are the only rural hospital in Texas to have received the vaccine so far.
“We are grateful for this opportunity and hope to receive more doses in the future. And, hopefully, we will have more time to plan and be able to have more space to own the clinic. We will continue to communicate through Facebook if / when more vaccines are received “, read the post on Facebook.
Dr. Meenakshi Ramanathan, an assistant professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of North Texas Health Science in Fort Worth, said the data from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines look promising. However, it will take time and cooperation to see effectiveness.
Ramanathan noted the medical victories that came with the pandemic, along with challenges such as e-learning.
“Students struggle with distance learning, whether it’s your college students or elementary students, K-12,” Ramanathan said. “In order for us to return personally and have the herd immunity to the vaccine, about 70% of people need to be vaccinated.”
Hellerstedt’s letter went on to say that entities best understand their own individual situations, so DSHS urges you to “take the initiative and push aggressively by administering the full dose of vaccine you have received.”
Hellerstedt added that they want every dose to be taken and calmed down.
For more information on the Texas Vaccine Distribution Plan, click here.
A copy of Hellerstedt’s letter is below:
