Austin Officials Outline Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution Plan

AUSTIN, TX — Austin Public Health officials on Wednesday outlined a distribution plan for the coronavirus vaccines that have arrived in Austin.

Vaccine supply is currently limited to health care workers defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services Vaccine Allocation Guiding Principles, health officials noted.

"We are thrilled that more than 200 vaccine providers have registered through DSHS or the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] to distribute COVID-19 vaccine in Austin-Travis County," said Cassandra DeLeon, the interim Austin public health assistant director for disease prevention and health promotion. "As more vaccine becomes available, we need our community to look to the places they usually get vaccinated, such as doctor’s offices and pharmacies to receive their COVID-19 vaccine."

As the vaccine distribution ramps up in the coming weeks and months, officials said, Austin Public Health will continue to serve as an informational hub. While the department's clinics are registered as a vaccine providers through the state health department, the local health district will not serve as the distributor of vaccines to providers in the community, officials noted.

"APH is committed to serving as a safety net for those without insurance when the vaccine is available and will focus our efforts on vaccination of our underserved population," officials said in a prepared statement. "APH does not oversee other providers and their individual distribution plans."

However, officials added, Austin Public Health is working across the health care system to set guidelines that support a distribution network outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials.

“We are working with a large coalition from our Central Texas community and focusing on a data-driven approach to prioritization of vaccine distribution,” said Dr. Mark Escott, interim Austin-Travis County health authority.

Local health officials said the federal government, under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed, has been working since the start of the pandemic to make a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine available. After a vaccine is authorized or approved for use, many vaccine safety monitoring systems watch for possible side effects, officials said, adding that this continued monitoring can pick up on side effects that may not have been seen in clinical trials.

“If you have the opportunity to receive the vaccine, take it,” Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said. “We are confident in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine as the federal government has measures in place to ensure that all vaccines are as safe as possible.“

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a fact sheet on the Pfizer vaccine for recipients and caregivers. The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will be meeting again on Dec. 17 to discuss Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna vaccine.

The following resources have been made available by the Department of State Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration:

• Texas Department of State Health Services: COVID-19 Vaccine Information 
• Texas Department of State Health Services: COVID-19 Vaccination Plan 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 Vaccination Program Playbook (PDF)
• Food and Drug Administration: COVID-19 Vaccine Information

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the city's COVID-19 Vaccines portal.

On a statewide level, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday he would provide an update on the vaccine distribution plan across Texas. To that end, the governor scheduled a news conference for Thursday at 8:45 a.m. from the UPS Distribution Center, 9020 Tuscany Way. Scheduled to join the governor are Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt, according to an advisory.