DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The federal government announced Wednesday morning that it is partnering with the State of Texas to launch three COVID-19 vaccine mega-centers, including two in the DFW metroplex.
According to Governor Greg Abbott, Federal Emergency Management Agency is establishing mass community vaccination sites in North Texas and Houston. The federal pilot sites, will be based at AT&T Stadium, Fair Park, and NRG Stadium. The Governor said the sites are part of a joint effort to support vaccination efforts in underserved areas. The sites will be operated by FEMA in partnership with the state of Texas through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and local officials.
Preparations and buildout of these three locations is now underway, and the sites are expected to be open to eligible members of the public the week of February 22. Registration details for appointments at these locations will be announced in the coming days.
“These mass community sites will allow us to expand access to COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved communities and help us mitigate the spread of the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “Thank you to our partners at FEMA for working with the State of Texas to establish these vaccination sites and help us protect our most vulnerable.”
The Governor said the goal of establishing these joint federal pilot sites is to continue to vaccinate more Texans in an efficient, effective, and equitable manner, with an explicit focus on making sure that communities with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection are not left behind.
“Our state and local partners have made an extraordinary effort in the vaccine rollout, these sites are another opportunity to work together and assist in the vaccine administration,” said Tony Robinson, FEMA Region 6 Administrator. “We are making progress, but the job isn’t complete until everyone who wants a vaccine receives a vaccine.”
According to the Governor, Texas will closely monitor vaccination uptake at each of these sites and will work with local and federal partners to make real-time decisions to ensure the best utilization of the additional vaccines that have been made available.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said on Wednesday that he applauds the White House for selecting Dallas as a community vaccination site.
This is welcome news for all Texans. These much-needed resources will help us reach some of our hardest-hit communities and ensure that more residents access the vaccine in a fair and equitable manner,” said Judge Jenkins. “No Texan should be left behind.”
He said the resources will help many families, and particularly the most vulnerable residents, regain some sense of normalcy.
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