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Ascension Seton in Austin, pictured here, administered the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines the week of the Dec. 14 to launch a tiered process of distribution. This week Burnet County facilities are expected to begin the process. Contributed -
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Burnet County healthcare workers and nursing home personnel are next in line to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, as a round of vaccines make their way into the Hill Country this week, officials said.
As part of a tiered distribution process, the Moderna vaccine to fend off the coronavirus will go to hospitals and clinics, free-standing emergency rooms, EMS providers, pharmacies and health departments.
“It’s for frontline medical staff people who come into direct contact with patients and high-risk individuals,” Regional Emergency Operations Coordinator Russell Sander said.
Nursing home staff are among the group as well.
In Burnet County, Marble Falls Baylor Scott & White Hospital and Burnet’s Ascension Seton Highland Lakes will begin to receive deliveries as weekend shipments make their way to the facilities.
“Texas expects to receive 620,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine distributed to more than 1,100 providers in 185 Texas counties in week 2 of vaccine distribution,” according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. “The CDC will deliver 460,500 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna and 159,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to continue to vaccinate front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.”
Last week, healthcare workers in cities like Austin and San Antonio received doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
“Pfizer vaccine went to the major metro areas first,” Sander said.
Unlike rural facilities, larger city hospitals have the capacity to store via refrigeration the Pfizer vaccines. The Moderna version does not require the specialized storage.
Looking to the future, DSHS officials announced that “most of the Pfizer vaccine, 124,800 doses, will go to the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.
“Vaccination under the program is expected to begin Dec. 28 in Texas,” the DSHS statement read. “The remaining doses will be distributed to 29 hospitals that received Pfizer doses this week to continue vaccinating health care workers.
The release of distribution plans for other groups is pending.
