DALLAS, TX – In a letter to COVID-19 vaccine providers across Texas, the commissioner of the state health department urged providers to order additional shots as needed.
“As the COVID-19 vaccine supply increases and most Texans eager to be vaccinated have at least received their first shot, we have heard from many of you that weekly demand for vaccine appointments has decreased,” Texas Department of State Health Service Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt wrote. “While there are still many Texans willing to be vaccinated, that demand is shifting from large, mass vaccination sites to smaller, more convenient sites where Texans routinely receive medical care.”
He said there were about 280,000 more doses available to Texas providers for this week, which was more than what was requested.
The extra supply will go to the DSHS pharmacy in Austin, but the state is pushed providers to place an order by 5 p.m. Tuesday. They also asked providers for new strategies to reach additional people and offered to provide support in the way of technical help or personnel for providers who ask by Tuesday.
The state said people were going to pharmacies and doctors’ offices to receive shots instead, but some local leaders said the downward trend in signups has to do with vaccine hesitancy.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said he’s noticed a drop in the number of people signing up for vaccines at the county hubs.
“I think people have gotten comfortable. There’s some that don’t want to take the vaccine, some think, ‘Golly, everything is slowing down, everything is coming to a close and maybe we don’t need to get a vaccine,'” Whitley said. “I think it’s any number of different reasons, but unfortunately, I really wish folks would really go ahead and take the vaccine so we don’t see a spike like we have in some of the other states.”
