Along with the confusion about the COVID-19 vaccine, there are many questions and widespread frustration about when and how vaccines will be given. Additionally, news of what many believe is unfair distribution has also surfaced.
District 2 Garland City Council Member Deborah Morris recently expressed her feelings, which mirror those of many residents, in a letter to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Parkland President and CEO Frederick Cerise, M.D.
“I write to you jointly to state my concerns (and frankly my disbelief) about actions taken this week involving both DCHHS and Parkland issuing private/selective invitations to certain Dallas residents to receive walk-up vaccinations while other Dallas County residents were required to register and wait for an appointment. Taxpayer-funded vaccines being offered quietly to certain people or groups selected unilaterally by an elected official is not how we’re supposed to operate. I understand the noble intention of drawing in more residents from underserved areas, but fail to understand either the secrecy involved or the rationale behind defining Dallas County’s underserved population as residing solely in South Dallas.”
She added that District 2 includes many disadvantaged and diverse neighborhoods and that these residents were treated as “second-class citizens” by being excluded from the private invitations that were sent out from the Dallas County Health Department and Parkland Hospital.
“We have 30 cities in Dallas County who depend on your transparent and equitable services. I would appeal to you not to forget us,” Morris wrote.
Another point of contention for Texans has been unfair distribution. The Dallas Morning News reported last week that some state lawmakers have received the vaccine whether they are eligible by state guidelines or not.
Dr. Mark Escott, interim medical director for Austin Public Health told The Dallas Morning News that he knows at least five to 10 legislators who were vaccinated through this process in the last few weeks.
The Dallas Morning News refers to the way some lawmakers are getting vaccines as “through a back channel facilitated by Austin’s top health authority and a local hospital system.”
The city of Garland has been named one of 13 designated locations to serve as a Dallas County vaccination hub and the city’s Health Department now has a vaccine waiting list.
When these locations begin to operate as vaccination hubs (start date has not been determined), each will give vaccines to everyone who meets the requirements, (Phase 1A and Phase 1B) no matter where they reside. The Garland, Sachse and Rowlett residents who are already on the waiting list will be served first, as distribution will be on a first-come, first-served basis. As a hub, Garland will receive larger shipments in the future and be able to serve more people.
Garland Public Health has received notice of a shipment of 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and will administer those Thursday, Jan. 21, at a drive-thru event at Homer B. Johnson Stadium. These doses will be given to persons at the top of the city’s waitlist who meet the requirements. This distribution is by notification only. Vaccines will not be available to walk up customers. Those who receive invitations will be asked to provide a unique identification made available to them on their notifications.
Almost 17,000 persons have already registered on the city of Garland waitlist.