Abbott said with the help of “Operation Warp Speed,” Texas was able to set up a large number of cold change storage operations so that the state would be equipped to adequately handle the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The governor also said that the State has run several mock distributions to eliminate any potential missteps.
Additionally, Abbott said Texas has established ways to communicate with those who receive the vaccine including a reminder card letting them know when and where to return for their second dose, as well as follow-up text messages, phone calls, email reminders, and “a statewide communication plan to make sure there is an inescapable way” for people to make sure they’re getting fully vaccinated.
The governor stated that he believes Texas is in a position to get 100,000 people vaccinated within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the first round of vaccines. He also emphasized that while he believes demand for the vaccines will be high and the state’s supplies will be used up, no one in Texas will be required to take a vaccine.
“We just want to make sure my fellow Texans know that we know that you are not going to be forced to take a vaccine against your will,” Abbott said.
Finally, Abbott addressed the need to get vaccines to underserved communities. He said that in a state as large and diverse as Texas, part of the job is identifying where those communities are, as many are located in large urban areas, but others are located in sparse rural areas that may not have access to health care at all. However, the State has a plan to reach those in need.
“The way that we are going to get to them is we have put together a bunch of mobile medical units that will be taking the vaccines to the people where they are in underserved communities to make sure that they will have access to those vaccines also,” Abbott said. “And we’ll be making clear exactly one thing … and that is the importance that they know that these vaccines are free. That’s not going to come with any money out of your pocket thanks in large part, thanks in total part, to Operation Warp Speed and what y’all have done here.”
The Operation Warp Speed summit kicked off around 1 p.m. CST. At the same time, President-elect Joe Biden was announcing his new health team. The governors’ panel portion began around 3:45 p.m.
Last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services released a list of hospitals that have been approved to receive the first round of vaccines in week one of distribution. According to that list, Central Texas hospitals will receive a total of 16,575 doses.
Travis County
- Seton Medical Center – 2,925 doses
- Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas – 1,950 doses
- South Austin Medical Center – 975 doses
- Dell Seton Medical Center – 1,950 doses
- UT Health Austin (Dell Medical School) – 2,925 doses
- Austin State Hospital – 975 doses
- North Austin Medical Center – 975 doses
- St. David’s Medical Center – 975 doses
- Round Rock Medical Center – 975 doses
- Baylor Scott and White Health Medical Center Round Rock – 975 doses
- Seton Medical Center Hays – 975 doses
