ABILENE, TX – State health officials ramped up shipments of COVID-19 vaccines the week of Jan. 11 to newly formed vaccination hubs across Texas.
Abilene was not included in that expanded push.
The vaccination hubs are in more populated or harder hit counties, such as Bexar (San Antonio), Dallas, El Paso, Harris (Houston), Tarrant (Fort Worth) and Travis (Austin). The only ones in West Texas are Lubbock and Potter (Amarillo).
As of Friday, 15 providers in Abilene have received a total of 9,050 doses, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ COVID-19 vaccine website.
The lion’s share of doses — 6,250 — went to Hendrick Medical Center North.
DSHS officials Thursday reported that 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Texas, but acknowledged that many more are waiting.
The agency responded to several comments on its Facebook page complaining about limited availability and confusing registration processes by stating:
“Hey y’all, we understand your concerns and frustrations. DSHS and vaccine providers are working hard to improve each part of the COVID-19 vaccine process. Please continue to provide your feedback as it is vital for making improvements.
“We wish there was enough vaccine to blanket every corner of Texas. Y’all know how big Texas is. It’s going to take a while for everyone who wants to get a vaccine to get one.”
The state website provides an interactive map that shows where vaccines have been sent, advising users to contact individual providers listed for up-to-date information on availability and eligibility requirements.
One of the facilities listed for Abilene is Texas Oncology, which is following state guidelines to administer its initial allotment to its healthcare providers, said spokesman Ed Bryson.
“The small number of remaining vaccines doses will be offered to patients, on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing patients who are most at risk, per state and CDC clinical guidelines,” Bryson said.
The oncology staff will contact eligible patients about the vaccine.
“Until we receive additional doses from the Texas Department of State Health Services, we will not be able to provide the vaccine to all Texas Oncology patients,” Bryson said.
Current state guidelines mandate that only people specified in 1A and 1B groups can receive the vaccine, such as healthcare providers, first responders, nursing home residents and people who have a medical condition that puts them at an elevated risk for more severe illness or death if they contract the coronavirus.
Following is the list of Abilene providers who have received COVID-19 vaccines, based on information at the website at noon Friday:
- Hendrick Health System: 6,250 doses (none available)
- Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District: 600 doses (none available)
- Hendrick Provider Network: 300 doses (none available)
- United Pharmacy, 2160 Pine St.: 100 doses (none available)
- Walgreens Pharmacy, 1005 N. Judge Ely Blvd.: 100 doses (none available)
- Walgreens Pharmacy, 991 N. Willis St.: 100 doses (none available)
- H-E-B Pharmacy, 1345 Barrow St.: 200 doses (34 available)
- Walgreens Pharmacy, 3033 S. 14th St.: 100 doses (none available)
- Texas Cancer Center, 1957 Antilley Road: 100 doses (80 available)
- Encompass Health Rehabilitation, 6401 Directors Parkway: 200 doses (160 available)
- COVID-19 vaccines in the Big Country
More than 3,900 doses also have been sent to the following providers in the Big Country, according to the state website:
- Aspermont: Stonewall Memorial Hospital, 100 doses (80 available).
- Ballinger: Memorial Hospital District, 100 doses (none available); Hospital Clinic, 200 doses (none available); and Department of State Health Services, 100 doses (none available).
- Breckenridge: Breckenridge Medical Center, 100 doses (none available).
- Brownwood: Brown County Public Health District, 100 doses (none available); Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood, 100 doses (30 available); and Walgreens, 100 doses (none available).
- Cisco: Brookeshire’s Pharmacy, 100 doses (none available).
- Clyde: United Pharmacy, 200 doses (none available); and Resourcecare Clinic, 100 doses (none available).
- Coleman: Coleman Medical Associates, 200 doses (60 available); and Owl Drug Store, 200 doses (80 available).
- Colorado City: Mitchell County Hospital, 300 doses (none available).
- Eastland: Eastland Memorial Hospital, 400 doses (70 available).
- Haskell: The Drug Store, 100 doses (none available).
- Knox City: Knox County Hospital, 100 doses (none available).
- Snyder: Cogdell Family Clinic, 400 doses (none available); and United Pharmacy, 100 doses (none available).
- Sweetwater: Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, 300 doses (70 available); Brookshire’s Pharmacy, 300 doses (50 available); Nolan County-Sweetwater Public Health District, 100 doses (50 available).
- Throckmorton: Throckmorton Rural Health Clinic, 100 doses (none available); and Throckmorton County Memorial Hospital, unspecified doses (80 available).
- Winters: North Runnels Hospital District, 300 doses (none available).
