8 million Texans fall in next COVID-19 vaccination group
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When can people who qualify for group 1B expect to get the vaccine?
According to DSHS, there are eight million people in Texas who are eligible for group 1B, though some of them are also eligible to be vaccinated as part of group 1A as health care workers or long-term care residents. Bill McKeon, the CEO and President of the Texas Medical Center, says it all depends on how much vaccine they receive. Right now, local health leaders are waiting to see if they get any more guidance from the state but as soon as enough vaccine is available, they anticipate 1B vaccinations will begin.
December 22, 2020, 7:09 PM)
Clockwise from top left, Texas Medical Center President and CEO Bill Mckeon is joined by Houston Health Authority David Persse, MD Anderson Cancer Center President Peter Pisters, and Memorial Hermann Health System President and CEO David Callender for a vaccine update on Dec. 22, 2020.
In the next two weeks, access to the COVID-19 vaccine will begin opening up to Houstonians over 65, as well as those with certain medical conditions, according to local hospital and public health officials.
Those are the latest two groups to receive priority for the vaccine in Texas because of high risk of severe illness or death from the coronavirus infection. The Department of State Health Services says, older adults have made up more than 70% of COVID-19 deaths in the state, according to death certificate data.
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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) ABC13, Houston s news leader, hosted a one-hour town hall Thursday, Dec. 17 (7-8 p.m.), explaining the latest developments on the COVID-19 vaccine and what it all means for those living in southeast Texas.
Eyewitness News reporter Marla Carter gathered leaders from the medical community to highlight recent decisions by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the latest on the Texas COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, and to answer your questions about getting vaccinated.
Panelists for the town hall included:
Bill McKeon, Texas Medical Center president and CEO
Dr. David Persse, Houston Health Authority
Dr. Mandy Hill, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
Hear from one doctor who recommends face shields due to these key benefits. They are in addition, explained Persse. If you re wearing a cloth mask, that mostly protects the people around you. It does protect you some, but it mostly protects the people around you. [With] a clear plastic shield, your exhaled air goes everywhere, so it doesn t protect anyone around you.
A total of 1,514 new cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the city s total to 107,156.
Persse said the large number of new cases could possibly be related, to some degree, to the Thanksgiving holiday. He said 97% of the new cases reported are from the last 14 days.