Gonzales Healthcare Systems will continue to vaccine frontline workers as state prioritizes large cities

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Gonzales Healthcare Systems will continue to focus on vaccinating frontline workers for COVID-19, following the decision by the Department of State Health Services to send the majority of vaccines to larger cities around the state.

On Thursday, Jan. 7, the Texas DSHS announced that a majority of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses will be allocated to larger cities with providers who can inoculate 100,000 people or more. Gonzales is not listed to receive any vaccines for the week of Jan.11, and a statement from Gonzales Healthcare Systems said it will be receiving a “minimal” allotment.

“At this time, Gonzales Healthcare Systems has received the Moderna vaccine, and those doses have been administered to persons listed in the Phase I vaccine guidelines put out by the State of Texas,” A statement from Gonzales Healthcare Services reads. “We have been working with frontline workers in our area to ensure that those persons are vaccinated first, so they can continue to care for our community.”

According to the statement, planning is ongoing with the City of Gonzales and Gonzales County to organize a community vaccination event.

“Determining factors include vaccine allotments,” the statement reads. “Once we have adequate vaccine on-hand, we will begin vaccinating the 65+ age group, and hopefully be able to offer a large community vaccination effort.”

“Further updates will be posted to the Gonzales Healthcare Systems website (www.gonzaleshealthcare.com), Facebook page, and in the Gonzales Inquirer. Please check these resources first for information. We further ask that you be patient during this time. Our offerings to the community are dependent on the State, and we will act accordingly. Estimates are still Spring 2021 for vaccines to be available to the general public.”

A press release from the DSHS states that a list of hub vaccine providers will be made available by the DSHS on its website once allocation numbers have been finalized. This release also states that the week of Jan. 11 will be the last the state is required to reserve vaccine doses for residents and staff of long-term care facilities, “freeing up more vaccine for use in other settings in the future.”

Gonzales Healthcare Systems’ statement said it encourages all who are eligible to receive the vaccine when it becomes available, as it is “a safe practice to help fight COVID-19, and to help end this pandemic.”

While doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are still limited based on manufacturing ability, the supply is expected by DSHS to increase “in the coming months.”

“Providers should use all doses allocated to administer the first dose of vaccine to people,” stated the DSHS. “There is no need to reserve shots for a second dose because they will get a matching number of doses for that at the appropriate time.”

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