DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — Texas health officials are shifting strategies in their continuing effort to make COVID-19 vaccines available to those Texans wishing to get them. Rather than allocate weekly doses based on county population, as has been done until this week, state health officials are taking requests from providers and passing those numbers on to federal authorities who ship them out. So far just over one third of all eligible Texans are fully vaccinated while just under 50% have received one shot. For the first time since the vaccines became available supply is outstripping demand.
The Texas Tribune reports state and local officials have expected the turn, explaining that it happens with every large epidemic. Now the push is on to get people who have been too busy, hesitant or disinterested to get vaccinated. Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt sent a letter to vaccine providers on Friday, saying in part, “I encourage you to consider what you can do to make one more big push to quickly vaccinate those who are willing. This is our path out of the pandemic and back to normal lives.”
Texas is suddenly receiving three times the vaccine supply the state received in January. Nationwide enough vaccine has been produced to vaccinate more than 95% of eligible adults.
