DSHS and TDEM Continue to Stress the Urgency of COVID-19 Vaccine

Brazoria County has provided additional information to assist citizens in obtaining vaccination information. Here is a link to their vaccination page. 

Who can get vaccinated now?

• Our goal while vaccine supply is limited is to quickly vaccinate as many health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, and people at risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 as possible. Vaccine providers are encouraged to prioritize health care workers but can start vaccinating people in Phase 1B if they have vaccine available after vaccinating all available and willing people in Phase 1A. DSHS has posted additional guidance for vaccine providers. As of March 3, 2021 those who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff, and bus drivers) and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers are now eligible to receive the vaccine. 
• Phase 1C of the Texas COVID-19 Vaccination rollout begins on March 15, 2021. This allows any person over the age of 50 to receive the vaccine. 
• All adults 16 and older will be eligble for a vaccine starting March 29, 2021. 

Vaccine Availability

• Vaccine supply is still limited but new shipments of vaccine will arrive in Texas each week.
• The Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Locations map shows the locations where vaccine has been sent. It will be updated weekly after the new shipments of vaccine have been shipped out to vaccine providers.

How do I find a place to get vaccinated?

• Health care workers in Phase 1A should contact their employer about getting vaccinated. Smaller health care facilities and medical offices can reach out to large vaccine providers to arrange for vaccination of their employees. Visit the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Locations map to see which providers have received vaccine.
• People in Phase 1B may be able to get vaccinated now if vaccine providers have vaccine available after vaccinating all Phase 1A people. Visit the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Locations map to see which providers have received vaccine and contact them to find out if you can make an appointment to get vaccinated. People can check the map weekly to determine if there is a vaccine provider near them.
• Brazoria County has announced over 80 facilities are enrolled with the State to receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. County officials encourage eligible residents (those that fall into Phase 1A and Phase 1B) to watch for information from local pharmacies, physician's offices, urgent care facilities, etc., for dates the COVID-19 vaccine will be available at these locations. Updates to Brazoria County's vaccination efforts will be posted on the Brazoria County website as the vaccine becomes available throughout the county. Brazoria County Health Department has additional information related to the vaccine available on their webpage. 
• UTMB has announced a new online signup page for the vaccine. Click here to visit their site. 

• The new Texas Vaccine Scheduler helps Texans get scheduled for a COVID-19 vaccine at clinics hosted by participating Texas public health entities. Register online at GetTheVaccine.dshs.texas.gov. You will be notified by email or text when and where to get the vaccine. If there’s not an available clinic near you, you will be directed to other places to get your vaccine. Call (833) 832-7067 if you don’t have internet or need help signing up. Call center support is available 7am-7pm, 7 days a week. Spanish language and other translators are available to help callers.

Vaccine Safety

• Information gathered in large-scale clinical trials and thoroughly reviewed by scientists at the FDA shows that the vaccines are safe and effective.

Vaccine Cost

• The vaccine will be provided free of charge to anyone who wants it. For people with insurance, insurance will cover any fee to administer it by the provider. People without insurance won’t be charged.

Can the vaccine be required?

• Getting vaccinated is voluntary, and people cannot be required to get the vaccine because it is being administered under an emergency use authorization, not as a fully licensed vaccine.

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

• People still need to take precautions like physical distancing and wearing a mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as people get vaccinated and we learn more about the immunity produced by the vaccines.