The Galveston County vaccination partnership is
encouraging anyone 16 and older, regardless of medical conditions, to sign up for the Galveston County COVID-19
vaccine waitlist.
Galveston County, the
Galveston County Health District and the University of Texas Medical Branch are encouraging additional signups
to ensure they’ll be ready to move quickly as state vaccine eligibility guidelines expand. The Texas
Department of State Health Services announced it will expand vaccine eligibly to all adults on March 29.
“We want to make sure
that people sign up and are ready to get vaccinated as our supply increases and state guidelines are
updated,” said Dr. Janak Patel, UTMB director of healthcare epidemiology and infection control.
“Signing up now means that you are already on the list when the
criteria are changed to allow more people to be vaccinated.”
Galveston County has been
one of the leading counties in the state in vaccinating its residents. UTMB has administered over 150,000
vaccine doses. About 18 percent of Galveston County residents are fully vaccinated, according to state data.
UTMB is also administering vaccines in Brazoria County and all residents there are encouraged to join the waitlist.
Currently, those in
high-risk categories can expect to get an invitation to be vaccinated within a few days of signing up on the
waitlist. Even those outside the high-risk categories should get an invitation to be vaccinated within 10 days,
Patel said.
“Now is the time. Sign up now and we will
be able to schedule your appointment for next week, regardless of age or condition,” said Galveston County
Local Health Authority Dr. Philip Keiser. “Galveston County has done a phenomenal job vaccinating its
residents. The partnership between the health district, UTMB and county is something I think we can all be proud
of. We want to make sure anyone who wants to receive a vaccine is registered on the county waitlist.”
To join
the waitlist, visit www.utmbhealth.edu/vaccine. As vaccine doses
become available, the Health District and UTMB use the waitlist to send invitations to individuals to schedule a
vaccine appointment. Depending on the supply available in a particular week, appointments could be available for
Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.