DSHA stops weekly Covid-19 allocations, moves to orders

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Thursday they will no longer allocate COVID-19 vaccines to providers on a weekly basis. The department will fill vaccine orders from providers as they are received or place orders with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a daily basis.

DSHS is moving away from the allocation process due to sufficient supply and providers no longer needing to use every dose the week they receive it. Suppliers can now store the vaccines to maximize the shelf life. The department is encouraging providers to vaccinate all who wish to be vaccinated even if it requires opening a new vial for a person without knowing all doses in that vaccine will be used. “This is a big step in vaccine distribution,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services. “The ability to ship vaccine to pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and other providers as they need it will go a long way to making sure it is available when and where Texans want to be vaccinated.” More than 11.3 million people have received one dose of the vaccine, with almost 8.3 million fully vaccinated as of last Friday, according to DSHS. Texas has administered more than 18 million doses since vaccination began. According to DSHS, more than half of all eligible state residents have received a dose of vaccine, with 37% being fully vaccinated.

DSHS launched the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler online last month. The service allows registration for a vaccine appointment from participating public health entities such as DSHS and some local health departments. The DSHS office in Throckmorton County is one of the participating entities. “Vaccine is available more widely than ever at hundreds of locations across Texas, many with no waiting and no appointment needed. Convenience will be key to getting the next group of Texans vaccinated, and DSHS is working with existing providers, employers and community organizations to make vaccination as easy as possible,” DSHS wrote Friday.

DSHS will no longer be posting their weekly allocation tables which they started Dec. 14, 2020. For 21 weeks the department has listed which providers and vaccine hubs would be receiving doses from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Last Friday, DSHS announced the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include those aged 12 years and older and the department invited pediatric healthcare providers to enroll in the COVID-19 vaccine program.

“Vaccinating adolescents will bring us closer to ending the pandemic and getting back to normal,” said DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD. “Starting the enrollment process now will enable pediatric providers to start vaccinating their patients soon after the FDA expands the Pfizer vaccine’s EUA.”

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was already authorized for those aged 16 and older. DHSH sent a letter to 3,000 providers enrolled in the Texas Vaccines for Children Program as well as the Texas Medical Association, Texas Pediatric Society and other provider groups to enroll in the COVID-19 vaccine program which can be enrolled at EnrollTexasIZ.dshs.texas.gov. DSHS expanded vaccine eligibility Monday, March 29, to all adults. The department directed providers of the vaccine to continue to prioritize people 80 years old or older when taking appointments and also place priority when members of that group also do not have an appointment. DSHS said vaccine providers across the state have made progress in vaccinating people in the priority groups, which are those included in the Phase 1A, 1B and 1C groups. Phase 1A eligibility includes residents of long-term care facilities and front-line healthcare workers. Phase 1B focuses on people 65 years of age and older and those with certain medical conditions. Phase 1C of vaccine eligibility, which began Monday, March 15, includes people aged 50 to 64 years of age.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service directed states on Tuesday, March 3, to also expand vaccine eligibility to include people who work in schools and childcare centers. The order states those who work in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff and bus drivers) are eligible. Those who work with licensed child care providers and center-based and family care providers are also eligible. The state is in the phases of vaccine distribution called Phase 1A, Phase 1B and Phase 1C. Phase 1C of vaccine eligibility includes people aged 50 to 64 years of age. DSHS wrote that more than 93% of the fatalities within the state caused by COVID-19 have been in people 50 and older, with those aged 50 to 64 accounting for 20% of all fatalities. All Texans aged 16 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine.

Travel guidance throughout the state was also updated last month by DSHS for people who are fully vaccinated. Those who are fully vaccinated can safely travel within the country and no longer need to be tested or quarantined before or after travel, unless where they are traveling requires it. For more information, visit dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/travelers.aspx.