Texans have been slow to vaccinate their youngest against COVID-19, but theyโre slightly ahead of the national average
For some parents of kids under 5 who want to vaccinate them, the wait has been excruciating, fraught with delays and close calls. Others are hesitant to have their young children vaccinated.
Analysis: A Texas election in the shade of governmentโs third branch
Challenges to new Texas laws on voting, political districts and abortion are all pending in court, as is the stateโs challenge to federal vaccine mandates. But until the courts rule, those laws remain in place โ and they provide political fodder for the incumbents who support them.
With the federal vaccine mandate for health care workers halted, Texas nursing homes dodge furloughs and fines
Texasโ nursing home staff vaccination rates are lower than half the countryโs โ but a judgeโs decision last week to delay a vaccine mandate helped them avoid laying off a third of their employees.
Texas scientists search for potentially virulent new omicron COVID-19 variant as state health officials push vaccination
So much is unknown about the new COVID-19 variant: the severity of the illness it causes, whether it can resist vaccines and natural antibodies and whether itโs more contagious than the delta variant that has burned through Texas and the U.S. for months.
โIt puts a big burden on employersโ: Businesses face tough choices after Gov. Greg Abbott bans vaccine mandates
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines say they will continue requiring employee vaccinations despite Abbottโs new order, which has left federal government contractors, nursing homes and other companies caught between conflicting rules from the Biden administration and the state.
Texas doctors, seeing unprecedented numbers of pregnant patients with COVID-19, urge pregnant people to get vaccinated
Pregnant women are getting vaccinated at lower rates than the general population. โThis variant is much more aggressive, [and] pregnant women are getting sicker much faster,โ one doctor says.
Texas lawmakers supported a statewide vaccine mandate a decade ago. Now they're resisting one for COVID-19.
Ten years ago, the state led in requiring meningitis vaccines for students under 22 enrolling in college. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, lawmakers are more skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Unvaccinated kids will need a waiver to sail with some cruise lines leaving out of Galveston
The first cruise sets sail from Galveston this weekend for the first time since the pandemic, but a Houston mom and her 8-year-old twin daughters wonโt be on board as planned due to a mix-up over vaccination waivers.
Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff visiting Texas to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations
Their Texas swing is part of a larger effort by senior administration officials who are fanning out across the country this week to encourage vaccinations ahead of the administrationโs self-imposed goal of hitting a 70% countrywide vaccination rate by July 4.
Texas lawmakers responded to the pandemic by limiting what the government can do in response to a pandemic
Lawmakers didnโt succeed in curtailing the governor's power during a disaster, but they did pass bills that prohibit so-called vaccine passports and ban the mandatory closure of churches and gun stores.
Texas GOP state senator urged use of unproven hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19. Now he's spreading doubt about vaccines.
In a period of sagging vaccination rates โ particularly among staunch conservatives โ state Sen. Bob Hall used his platform to promulgate debunked anti-vaccine conspiracies and push claims that have largely been eschewed by the medical community.
Mayor Turner, Judge Hidalgo request extension for vaccine clinic at NRG Park
HOUSTON โ Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo are requesting an extension of the FEMA supersite at NRG Park. The COVID-19 vaccination clinic, which opened on Feb. 24, was scheduled to remain at NRG Park for eight weeks. Now, Turner and Hidalgo are asking for the site to remain open through at least May 31. โOn Monday, the eligibility is going to extend to everyone in Houston, Harris County, and across the state of Texas. That mass vaccination site is needed even more so now, so the request is to extend that vaccination site, pretty much indefinitely,โ Turner said during a news briefing Wednesday.
All adults in Texas now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, state officials say
HOUSTON โ The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Tuesday that everyone 16 and up will be eligible to sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29. The Texas Department of State Health Services said it expects vaccine supplies to increase in April to more than a million doses per week, well above the demand under current eligibility criteria. โWe certainly donโt want to lose that momentum that weโve had,โ said state health department spokesman Chris Van Deusen. Also next week, DSHS said it will launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers in more rural communities. Texans can continue to find vaccine providers throughout Greater Houston and sign up on waitlists through the DSHS Vaccine Information page at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine.
CVS to administer COVID-19 vaccines at 74 more pharmacies across Texas: Hereโs how to get an appointment
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)HOUSTON โ CVS Health announced Thursday that it will begin to administer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations starting Sunday, March 14, at 74 additional CVS Pharmacy locations across Texas. These additional retail locations bring to 180 total CVS Pharmacy locations administering a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Vaccines at participating CVS Pharmacy locations in Texas will be available to individuals meeting state eligibility criteria, as well as K-12 teachers and staff and childcare workers. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and people without online access can contact CVS Customer Service: (800) 746-7287. Vaccines will eventually be available at CVS Pharmacy locations throughout the country subject to product availability, with the capacity to administer 20 to 25 million shots per month.
Rice Stadium to become vaccination site starting March 15
HOUSTON โ St. Lukeโs Health announced Monday that Rice Stadium will be a new appointment-only vaccination site starting on March 15. The Rice Stadium vaccine clinic, located at 2200 University Blvd. It is required that all visitors wear a face covering and maintain a physical distance while on campus and within the vaccination clinic. โThe iconic Rice Stadium is large and functional and conducive to an efficient clinic operation. St. Lukeโs Health is proactively reaching out to area schools/districts and care centers to develop plans for vaccinating eligible staff.
METRO offering free rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites around Houston-area
HOUSTON โ METRO Houston will now offer free rides to anyone who plans to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Houstonians within the METRO service area can hop on their local bus, METRORail, Park & Ride, METRORapid, and METROLift ride, according to a news release Thursday. Those who plan to use the free service must show proof of their appointment or vaccination card upon boarding. Eligible riders must also fall under categories 1A and 1B of the state vaccination guidelines, which includes frontline workers, residents at long-term care facilities and those at greater risk for complications. The free ride offer will be expanded along with the stateโs vaccine expansion to other groups.
FEMA supersite at NRG Park continues to administer thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses
HOUSTON โ The FEMA supersite at NRG Park became fully operational Wednesday. The site plans to administer 126,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine over a three-week period. โThe vaccination site here at NRG Park is the largest operation we are running in Texas,โ said FEMA spokeswoman Carmen Castro. FEMA said many of the technical issues experienced Wednesday were fixed ahead of Thursdayโs opening. However, this, whatever is broken here at NRG, needs to be repaired.โAccording to the woman, workers told her others have experienced similar issues.
Side effects from 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine are normal, common, experts say
HOUSTON โ A sore arm, fatigue, mild headaches and fever are just a few of the side effects health experts say you can expect after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. The side effects are not only common but a good sign according to Memorial Hermannโs Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Linda Yancey. โThe reason you get more of those effects after the second dose is because the first dose is the first time your immune system has ever seen these viral proteins,โ Yancey said. The tetanus vaccine is one of our best vaccines and thatโs why you get those side effects,โ Yancey said. If the side effects continue, Yancey said you should make an appointment with your primary doctor.
Slots filled for Memorial Hermann COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru clinic in Sugar Land for those 65 and older
SUGAR LAND, Texas โ All slots are filled for a Fort Bend County COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru clinic at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land Wednesday, Feb. 3 to Saturday, Feb. 6, authorities said Tuesday. If you are 65 years of age or older, you are asked to complete a vaccination verification form that will confirm your eligibility for vaccination. Public registration is available only to those 65 years of age and older, consistent with the stateโs Phase 1B guidance. Approximately 16,000 COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered, Memorial Hermann said. Vaccine supply is limited and appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis until the available appointments are full.
Appointments for Montgomery Countyโs first coronavirus vaccine clinic filled
CONROE, Texas โ Appointments for Montgomery Countyโs first mass coronavirus vaccine clinic were full Tuesday shortly after the clinic was announced. The appointment-only clinic is being held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds at 9333 Airport Road in Conroe. People without appointments will not be permitted inside the vaccine site. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Follow the latest vaccine news in our special sectionThere will be 2,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine administered during the clinic. Some first responders were vaccinated Tuesday to work out the kinks and ensure Wednesdayโs event goes smoothly.
Did you get COVID-19 over the holidays? Harris County advises people to get tested due to potential exposure
HOUSTON โ Harris County Public Health is advising residents to get tested due to potential holiday COVID-19 exposure. Heath officials said even if a person visited with family members during the holiday, they should still get tested. Officials said COVID-19 infections from Christmas and New Yearโs will begin to show up in the next week or two. Officials said itโs important to get tested as those in the high risk community continue to get the vaccine in efforts to slow the spread. Here is a list of HCPH test sites where you get your results in 3-5 days:Jan. 11 โ Jan. 16- M.O.
Appointments filling up quickly at Houstonโs free COVID-19 vaccination clinic
HOUSTON โ The Houston Health Department opened the cityโs first public COVID-19 vaccination site. The call center, which handles COVID-19 vaccination scheduling, COVID-19 test scheduling and also releases COVID-19 test results, experiences technical issues due to the high call volume. โIf you do not already have an appointment, please do not show up to the location.โTurner provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccination clinic during a news briefing Sunday afternoon. Details: https://t.co/Ov6DpYkcAK#hounews โ Houston Health Dept (@HoustonHealth) January 1, 2021Each person will be provided a location and appointment time to be vaccinated. The Houston Health Department will announce additional free vaccination opportunities as supply increases.
DSHS initiates Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccine, expanding eligible to โmedically vulnerableโ patients
HOUSTON โ The Department of State Health Services has given entities the go-ahead to begin vaccinating people eligible for Phase 1B, after vaccinating as many willing members of Phase 1A. According to McCarthy, almost 10,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered at Memorial Hermann as part of Phase 1A. โ1A was really first-line medical responderโs, not just the doctors in hospitals but their clinic staff and EMS providers,โ McCarthy said. โWhat the state has said is we donโt have to wait until we have every 1A individual classified as long as we are still getting them vaccinated,โ McCarthy said. McCarthy said Memorial Hermann could open up for Phase 1B as early as next week but said they are still working on how those eligible will be identified.
โItโs hard to even talk about itโ: Houston-area nurse who lost family to coronavirus on crusade to get people vaccinated
HOUSTON โ As a COVID-19 vaccine nears approval by the Food and Drug Administration, a Houston-area nurse is encouraging her colleagues to get vaccinated once shipments arrive. Irma Ikalinaโs story of what the coronavirus has done to her family serves as the sad and sole reason sheโs on a crusade to get people vaccinated. โItโs hard to even talk about it.โIkalina, her mother, her father, her daughter, and her mother-in-law chose nursing as a profession. Overall, McFarlane stresses Houston-area hospitals have not had as overwhelming an experience treating COVID-19 patients as hospitals in other large cities. โIf (a vaccine) could have saved my mother-in-law, my dad, I would have given it to them in a heartbeat,โ Ikalina said.