This browser does not support the Video element.
20,000 people register for vaccine on new APH portal on its first day
At least 8,000 of the people who signed up will not be able to receive the vaccine as APH has only received 12,000 doses.
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Public Health rolled out its pre-registration portal for the COVID-19 vaccine on their website officially on Wednesday, welcome news to the Travis County residents.
If you have already been tested for COVID-19 by APH, you can use your same login credentials.
"We've had over 20,000 that have signed up with accounts, as you know we only received 12,000 doses," said Stephanie Hayden, director of Austin Public Health.
RELATED: How can I get on the waitlist for a COVID-19 vaccine in Austin?
This browser does not support the Video element.
Austin receives 13,300 vaccines for those who qualify for Phase 1B
Austin has received the first shipment of vaccines for the general public.
That means at least 8,000 of the people who signed up will not be able to receive the vaccine. APH is only inoculating those who fall in the 1a and 1b groups, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. APH is urging everyone to be patient.
"Vaccine still has to be made, still has to be shipped, it still has to be stored and those things take time," said Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority with Austin Public Health.
RELATED: Nearly 900k Texans have been vaccinated; state releases list of vaccine hub providers
Earlier this week, the Texas Department of State Health Services identified Austin Public Health among 27 others as vaccine hubs getting thousands of doses. Places like Bexar County have already begun using large sites like the Alamodome for mass vaccination events. APH as of right now only discloses locations to patients.
"We have used several sites and we are ready to establish smaller scale as well as large scale events, we even have the ability to do drive-through locations," said Hayden.
Additionally, the alternate care site at the convention center is open, and today accepted its first handful of patients. "That fact alone that we are housing patients and taking care of them in the convention center, that our hospitals are overwhelmed, that should drive home how serious we are with this situation," said Dr. Jason Pickett, alternate health authority.
SIGN UP FOR FOX 7 AUSTIN EMAIL ALERTS
This browser does not support the Video element.
As hospitals across Texas experience a surge in COVID-19 cases, some doctors and nurses are trying to paint a better picture for those on the outside.
DOWNLOAD THE FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP
While the vaccine slowly rolls out, health officials advise all to not let up on social distancing, mask-wearing and hand washing.
"While we are all frustrated about the number of vaccines we have available we have something else that works very well, and it's those protective measures," said Escott.
To learn information about getting a vaccine, APH advises contacting your primary care physician first. If you are not insured, click here.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFO ON THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK