PEARLAND, TX – As of April 1, the city of Pearland has administered 19,612 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The city is finished administering first doses of the vaccine and will be administering only second doses through April 16.
In February, the city of Pearland requested more vaccines from the state as the mayor and several council members noted the city received very few vaccines for its population of nearly 130,000 residents.
Council Member Alex Kamkar and Council Member Luke Orlando drafted a letter to the state requesting more vaccines for Pearland in February. The letter was a tangible proof of one of the goals of the city: to get more vaccines for its community, Kamkar said.
“Pearland did something really incredible. We got that vaccine center up and running over night and got 2,000 shots in arms without wasting a single one,” Orlando said.In the first allocation to the city in February, Pearland received 2,000 vaccines. In the second allocation in March, the city received 2,500 doses. Both times the city opened a portal to receive vaccine doses, the available slots filled within the hour.
The city of Pearland administers its vaccines at the Pearland Recreation Center. With the release of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, more pharmacies and clinics can administer the vaccine, making it easier for more residents to receive the vaccine. Because of this, the demand for the vaccine has dropped at mass distribution areas in the county, Pearland Communications Director Josh Lee said. However, Pearland will continue to support the county and private entities in vaccine administration as it can, Lee said.
“The city will continue to refer residents to the Brazoria County Health Department and other local providers for vaccine appointments,” Lee said.
Those interested in the vaccine may have to sign up online, which may be more challenging for the elderly.
“How do you do more to reach people who are hard to reach? There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, but it is incumbent on all of us to get the word out to people who need it most,” Orlando said.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there are 34 Pearland-area locations where people can get vaccinated. However, there may not be vaccines readily available at those sites, so those interested should contact the vaccine site first. Brazoria County residents can go to Community Health Network’s website and find vaccination locations in the county.
The dispensation of the vaccine has gone smoothly throughout the county, Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta said in a press release in February.
“Partnerships from top to bottom have been phenomenal through this whole process of requesting, receiving and dispensing, the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.
