Wilco 1st Responders Slated For Initial Coronavirus Vaccinations

WILLIAMSON, COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County Commissioners Court has signed an agreement with Family Hospital Systems, LLC to provide coronavirus vaccination services to first responders, officials said Friday.

In accordance with Texas Department of State Health Services, officials explained, first responders are in the first tier of those receiving the vaccine.

"While the vaccine has not yet arrived in Texas, Williamson County and Family Hospital Systems staff are confident that preparations now will ensure a smooth process to disburse the vaccine once it becomes available," officials wrote in an advisory. "Williamson County and Family Hospital Systems are prepared to follow all federal and state guidelines involved in distributing the vaccine."

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Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made an initial Texas allotment of more than 1.4 million doses of vaccines for the coronavirus for December distribution. Scheduled to arrive in Texas the week of Dec. 14, the first round of vaccines will be distributed to qualifying providers across the state who will administer immunizations based on the Vaccine Distribution Principles developed by the state's Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, the governor said. Additional allotments may be made later this month for December, the governor noted, in addition to bolstered allotments slated for January and subsequent months.

Dr. Henry Higgins, CEO of Family Hospital Systems, lauded the effort while expressing pride in his medical network's participation: “Family Emergency Room is pleased to continue our partnership with Williamson County to provide this much-needed vaccine to our first responders," he said in a prepared statement. "We are proud to play a role in keeping our community healthy, especially those who risk so much for our well-being."

Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long was similarly gratified: “I am thankful that Family Emergency Room has once again stepped up to help meet critical needs in Williamson County as we have responded to COVID-19,” she said in a prepared statement.

In participating in the announcement, Family Emergency Room officials took the time to remind residents to continue taking proper precautions to help blunt the spread of illness — maintaining physical distance from those outside their immediate households, practicing good hygiene and wearing protective face coverings.

Medical officials also alerted residents to the availability of COVID-19 testing sites at all Family Hospital Systems facilities in Williamson County. To schedule a COVID-19 test, visit the Family Hospital Systems website.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell noted the potential impact of the first round of vaccinations:

“Providing vaccines to our first responders brings us one step closer to being able to provide a COVID-19 vaccine to all residents," he said in a prepared statement. "It has been a difficult year that has tested our strength and our resilience, but there is light at the end of the tunnel."