Governor Greg Abbott today -Thursday, December 17, 2020 – held a press conference where he provided an update on the statewide COVID-19 vaccine distribution at the UPS Distribution Center in Austin.
The Governor was joined for the press conference by Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD.
“It is a historic week in the Lone Star State as the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrive in our communities,” said Governor Abbott. “We are swiftly distributing these vaccines to health care workers across the state and will continue to ensure that Texans on the front lines have access to these live-saving immunizations.”
This week, about 95,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to 23 different sites throughout the state of Texas. An additional 129,675 doses will be delivered to 87 sites today — bringing the total number of doses to over 224,000 across 110 providers (hospitals and medical schools) in 34 counties.
This number will increase significantly with as more vaccines are produced and with the upcoming distribution of the Moderna vaccine.
By the end of the month, over a million vaccines will have been distributed to a variety of providers including hospitals, health centers, clinics and other medical practices, pharmacies, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent cares, long-term care facilities, local health departments, state hospitals, state supported living centers, and Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities.
Additionally, DSHS will begin reserving doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week for the federal Long-Term Care Pharmacy Partnership.
This program will begin the week of December 28th.
