As of May 1, 2021 the Texas Department of State Health Services is allocating 446,460 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to providers that requested it for next week. That represents 753 sites in 101 counties and leaves more than 500,000 additional doses available to providers.

Those doses will be shipped to the DSHS pharmacy in Austin and used to fill vaccine requests starting next week.

DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, sent a letter to all vaccine providers Friday encouraging any who need vaccine to make requests by Tuesday so vaccine can be delivered next week. “Additionally, if you have any new strategies for reaching additional people,” wrote Dr. Hellerstedt, “please also let us know by Tuesday – including whether we can support you with vaccines, technical support, or even personnel.”

In the following weeks, providers should continue to request vaccine as needed, and DSHS will place or fill orders for those amounts, rather than drawing down all doses in the state allotment.

In addition to the 446,460 first doses outlined above, DSHS is ordering 639,400 second doses for people vaccinated a few weeks ago. An estimated 480,000 first and second doses are expected to be available to pharmacy locations, federally qualified health centers and dialysis centers as allocated directly by the federal government.

Texas has now administered more than 18.3 million doses of vaccine. More than 11 million people have received at least one dose, and over 7.9 million are now fully vaccinated. That means nearly half of all eligible Texans have gotten a COVID-19 shot, and more than one-third are fully vaccinated.

Vaccine continues to be available across the state at large vaccine hubs, community vaccination providers, and special clinics operated by the DSHS public health regions, local health departments and Texas Military Forces. Many of the large vaccine providers have reduced their vaccine requests as shots become more widely available at smaller, more convenient locations around the state like pharmacies and doctors’ offices. People can register with the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler at getthevaccine.dshs.texas.gov, which will match them with a vaccine appointment through a participating public health entity in their county.

COVID-19 CASES

The Texas Department of Health and Humans Services has updated their COVID-19 app, visit dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/ and click Case Count to view to information.

Always remember that the numbers are what were reported from the state, and there are many factors included in counting numbers.

Here is a current look at cases for local counties:

Confirmed | Probable | Fatalities | Active cases
–Freestone: 1,089 | 803 | 49 | 61
–Navarro: 3,460 | 2,321 | 140 | 118
–Limestone: 2,136 | 635 | 76 | 53
–Leon: 1,271 | 356 | 43 | 20
–Anderson: 4,749 | 1,359 | 120 | 134

The inmate unit list has been shortened to only include the prisons in Freestone County and surrounding counties.

Current numbers of confirmed active case inmates in the State of Texas as of Friday, April 16, 2021 are as follows:

–Beto – 0 inmate and 5 employees
–Boyd – 0 inmates and 2 employees
–Coffield – 0 inmates and 7 employees
–Michael – 0 inmates and 1 employees
–Powledge – 0 inmates and 2 employees

LOCAL VACCINE SITES

Texas is currently allowing vaccinations for all persons 18 and over. Visit online at https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/ to find a location near you.

–Freestone County
Brookshire’s Pharmacy – Call your local store for more information or visit www.brookshirebrothers.com/covid-19.
Freestone Medical Center – Fairfield: Call (903) 389-2181 to be added to the waitlist.
Pharmacy Plus of Teague – Walk-ins and appointments available. Call 254-739-2585.
Hometown Pharmacy – Fairfield: Hometown Pharmacy is receiving weekly deliveries of the vaccine. Call them at (903) 389-2541 to schedule an appointment.

–Limestone County
HEB – Mexia: visit www.vaccine.heb.com for more information
Parkview Regional Hospital – Mexia: call 254-472-0101.
Family Medicine Center/Limestone Medical Center – Groesbeck: go to www.groesbeckhospital.com and scroll down to find their vaccine waitlist.

–Anderson County:
Palestine Regional Medical Center – Palestine: follow their Facebook (@palestineregional) for the registration link and updates. Appointments are first come first serve via their registration link(found on Facebook).
Kroger Pharmacy – Palestine: visit https://www.kroger.com/i/coronavirus-update/vaccine for more information
Brookshire’s Pharmacy: Call your local store for more information or visit www.brookshirebrothers.com/covid-19

–Navarro County
HEB – Corsicana: visit www.vaccine.heb.com for more information
Hometown Pharmacy – Corsicana: Hometown Pharmacy is receiving weekly deliveries of the vaccine. Call them at (903) 872-3784 to schedule an appointment.

–Leon County
Brookshire’s Pharmacy – Buffalo – Call your local store for more information or visit www.brookshirebrothers.com/covid-19.