Erath County Judge Alfonos Campos announced on Friday that Erath County residents may register for COVID-19 vaccinations thanks to the assistance of Tarrant County.
Campos wrote in a release Friday:
“In an effort to assist the state in getting as many shots into as many qualified arms as possible, Tarrant County invites us to share the below link with our constituents so we may register to be vaccinated.
“Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley has been assisting us and is in constant communication with the state to ensure we have a constant flow of vaccines to not only take care of our Tarrant county but supporting Erath County as well.
“This regional approach should allow for more efficiently and effectively vaccinate as many of our citizens as possible.
“If you have any questions, please feel free to call my office (254.965.1452) so we may assist you in any way possible.”
The link to resister for the vaccine may be found at: https://www.tarrantcounty.com/en/public-health/disease-control---prevention/COVID-19/COVID-19-Vaccine.html
Judge Campos discussed the vaccination schedule in a Facebook Live interview with Dublin Citizen Managing Editor Paul Gaudette on Thursday and encouraged people to be patient, noting that the initial plan was to work through all Phase 1A recipients before moving on to 1B. (This video may be found on Judge Campos’ Facebook page.)
At that time, he reported the county had received 100 COVID-19 vaccines in the initial shipment and expected 400 more this week. He reported that this number still wouldn’t serve all Phase 1A recipients in the county.
The order of people eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as announced by Texas Department of Health and Human Services last month was as follows:
Phase 1A: Health Care Workers Definition
First Tier
1. Paid and unpaid workers in hospital settings working directly with patients who are positive or at high risk for COVID-19. Such as but not limited to:
a. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other support staff (custodial staff, etc.)
b. Additional clinical staff providing supporting laboratory,pharmacy, diagnostic and/or rehabilitation services
c. Others having direct contact with patients or infectious materials
2. Long-term care staff working directly with vulnerable residents. Includes:
a. Direct care providers at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and state supported living centers
b. Physicians, nurses, personal care assistants, custodial, food service staff
3. EMS providers who engage in 9-1-1 emergency services like pre-hospital care and transport
4. Home health care workers, including hospice care, who directly interface with vulnerable and highrisk patients
5. Residents of long-term care facilities
Second Tier
1. Staff in outpatient care settings who interact with symptomatic patients. Such as but not limited to:
a. Physicians, nurses, and other support staff (custodial staff, etc.)
b. Clinical staff providing diagnostic, laboratory, and/ or rehabilitation services
c. Non 9-1-1 transport for routine care
d. Healthcare workers in corrections and detention facilites
2. Direct care staff in freestanding emergency medical care facilities and urgent care clinics
3. Community pharmacy staff who may provide direct services to clients, including vaccination or testing for individuals who may have COVID
4. Public health and emergency response staff directly involved in administration of COVID testing and vaccinations
5. Last responders who provide mortuary or death services to decedents with COVID-19. Includes:
a. Embalmers and funeral home workers who have direct contact with decedents
b. Medical examiners and other medical certifiers who have direct contact with decedents
6. School nurses who provide health care to students and teachers
Texas Phase 1B Vaccine Priorities
■ People 65 years of age and older
■ People 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, such as but not limited to:
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
• Solid organ transplantation
• Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus —Citizen staff report