Congressman Gonzalez Urges Texas DSHS to Designate Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg and Zapata Counties as COVID-19 Vaccine Hub
MCALLEN, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) sent a letter to Dr. John W. Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) urging the review and approval of the multi-county effort of Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties as a COVID-19 vaccine hub. The letter was signed by Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Texas State Senators Judith Zaffirini (D-21), Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-20), and State Representatives Tracy King (D-80) and Ryan Guillen (D-31).
"These counties have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Congressman Gonzalez. "It's my hope DSHS leaders will consider and approve these plans as quickly as possible to get vaccines in the arms of our most vulnerable and those who have been impacted the most. This joint county vaccination hub will be an efficient and effective vaccine provider to folks in these communities."
In the letter the officials write about the importance of stepping up the efforts of getting vaccines to rural communities in South Texas:
"After two months of vaccine distribution, these four counties have received approximately 2,000 doses for a combined population of nearly 40,000 persons. Many residents report feeling left behind because they live in rural communities.
To ensure these rural South Texans are vaccinated, we urge you to approve the proposed plan and designate this combined effort as an approved COVID-19 vaccine hub provider as soon as possible."
The proposal includes plans to have as many as six vaccine distribution sites throughout the four counties, leveraging nearly 200 volunteers to administer 5,000 vaccines per week. Vaccine storage and handling would be managed and supported by DSHS Public Health Region (PHR) 11 staff based in the Zapata field office.
The full letter is available here [gonzalez.house.gov] and below:
Dr. John W. Hellerstedt, Commissioner
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756-3199
Dear Commissioner Hellerstedt:
This is to respectfully request that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reviews the enclosed plan and designates the multi-county effort of Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, and Zapata counties as a COVID-19 vaccine hub provider as soon as possible.
The Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, and Zapata Multi-County hub proposal would follow relevant guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DSHS to ensure that every willing and eligible person is vaccinated. This includes vaccinating Phase 1A and 1B populations regardless of where they reside; administering all vaccine doses within five to seven days of receipt; daily reporting of administered doses to ImmTrac2 and TDEM; ensuring an equitable distribution of vaccines, targeting the hardest-hit ZIP codes and communities; and monitoring recipients for allergic reactions after they are vaccinated.
The proposal also includes plans to have as many as six vaccine distribution sites throughout the four counties, leveraging nearly 200 volunteers to administer 5,000 vaccines per week. Vaccine storage and handling would be managed and supported by DSHS Public Health Region (PHR) 11 staff based in the Zapata field office.
After two months of vaccine distribution, these four counties have received approximately 2,000 doses for a combined population of nearly 40,000 persons. Many residents report feeling left behind because they live in rural communities.
To ensure these rural South Texans are vaccinated, we urge you to approve the proposed plan and designate this combined effort as an approved COVID-19 vaccine hub provider as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter, and please let us know of your decision at your earliest convenience and do not hesitate to call upon us whenever we may be of further assistance.
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