ABILENE, TX — Just two months ago, more than 25,000 names were on a waitlist to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Taylor County.
Now, there are plenty of open appointment slots, but fewer people taking them.
Data from the state shows nearly 40 percent of people in Taylor County eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, which are those 16 and older, have been vaccinated.
That’s about 42,000 people.
Health experts say that’s nowhere near the estimated rate for herd immunity.
“It’s somewhere between 70 and 85 percent of the population where you have a combination of people who are vaccinated and people who’ve recovered,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci.
In the last month, state data shows the number of people in Taylor County getting vaccinated is dropping.
Since April 5, under 20,000 first and second doses were sent to several providers in Taylor County.
In that same time frame, data shows just over 15-thousand total doses were administered.
That means there are 5,000 doses without an arm to go in.
“It’s not surprising,” said Annette Lerma, Health Director for Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District. “I mean, we expected at some point to hit a wall.”
Lerma said the demand for doses has diminished.
“We’re getting more vaccine than what we are able to distribute out,” she explained.
It’s a complete 180-turn from when the City of Abilene started having clinics, which were booked for weeks.
Now, Lerma said they have a surplus of about 10,000 doses.
“We’re chipping away at it, but it’s a lot slower.”
Data from the state shows the ATCPHD has been getting a smaller allocation of doses.
“I think maybe the next week, they will completely pause on sending us vaccine at all so we can work through the 10,000 that we have on hand,” revealed Lerma.
The ATCPHD is working to educate people to ease their hesitancy to get vaccinated.
“We want to provide the information that they need to feel comfortable and answer any questions that they have, in a more personal way,” said Lerma.
