AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Over 900,000 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped to providers across Texas this week, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.
DSHS is expected to allocate 685,470 doses to at least 481 providers in 183 counties. More than 230,000 additional first doses are expected to be available to pharmacy locations and federally-qualified health centers directly from the federal government.
According to DSHS, Texas has now administered more than 8.8 million doses, an increase of 1.2 million in the last week. Over 6 million people have received at least one dose and more than 3 million are fully vaccinated. Among Texas seniors, 59 percent have received at least one dose and one in three are now fully vaccinated. Nearly one in seven of all Texans at least 16 years old are now fully vaccinated.
People ages 50 to 64 became eligible for vaccination last week. They are added to health care workers, long-term care residents, people 65 and older, people with chronic health care conditions that may increase their risk of severe COVID-19, and school and child care workers. DSHS estimates that 12 to 14 million Texans are currently eligible to be vaccinated.
In addition to the first doses mentioned above, the state is ordering 674,580 doses intended as the second dose for people first vaccinated a few weeks ago.
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