LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Ask state leaders to give rural areas more COVID-19 vaccine doses

Posted

Dear Editor:

My husband and I were fortunate enough to be able to receive our COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 4, 2021 at JB Wells Park, for which we were very grateful.

I must express our sincere appreciation for all those who made this possible. First and foremost is County Judge Patrick C. Davis who fought (and is still fighting) to secure vaccines for Gonzales County. But praise also must be expressed for all those who helped make the clinic professional, efficient, seamless and comforting: Gonzales County and City staff; Gonzales Healthcare Systems’ staff and board members; Gonzales County Sheriff’s office and the City of Gonzales Police Department; numerous Gonzales County law enforcement agencies; Gonzales County EMS, Texas Department of Emergency Management, and Texas Department of Health and Human Services. This truly was a team effort! If I have omitted anyone I sincerely apologize.

All of those involved anticipated potential questions and addressed them even before we could think of them!

Unfortunately, only 500 Gonzales county residents were able to receive vaccinations on Feb. 4, but not because our County Judge isn’t trying to get the state to ship more our way. It appears that rural communities are not being treated equally.

Regardless, I urge our local residents to contact Governor Greg Abbott and Dr. John Hellerstedt (Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services) to plead with them to send more vaccines to Gonzales County. 500 doses a week would be more than fair and are desperately needed. 1,000 would be better!

If you want to contact these two individuals by email, you will have to search for their email address because they have a very structured method for communication. Otherwise, here is mail and phone information:

Governor Greg Abbott

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 12428

Austin, Texas 78711-2428

(512) 463-2000

Dr. John Hellerstedt

Texas Department of State Health Services

P.O. Box 149347

Austin, Texas 78714-9347

(512) 776-7111 ext.7363

 

Thank you.

Kay F. Floyd

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