All adults in Texas will be allowed to get COVID vaccinations starting March 29

Texas expanding COVID-19 eligibility to all adults starting March 29

All adults will be allowed to sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine starting March 29 and health officials say they can handle this despite Texas having one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak has details.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Department of State Health Services has announced that all adults in Texas will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday, March 29.

Officials say that made the decision because vaccine supplies are expected to increase next week and providers in multiple parts of the state have made great strides in vaccinating people in the current priority groups.

The Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel in Texas recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations to protect as many Texans as possible.

"We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases," said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, in a news release. "As eligibility opens up, we are asking providers to continue to prioritize people who are the most at risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death – such as older adults."

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Every Texas adult will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines on March 29

How quickly people will get an appointment is determined by the increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses the state receives from the federal government.

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DSHS has directed vaccine providers to prioritize people 80 years old or older when scheduling appointments and accommodate anyone in that age group who presents for vaccination, whether or not they have an appointment, by immediately moving them to the front of the line. That will ensure vaccination of anyone 80 or older with as small a burden on themselves as possible.

Officials are also launching a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers. The public will be able to enroll in the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler to identify upcoming vaccine clinics hosted by DSHS or a participating local health department and be notified when new clinics and appointments become available. People can continue to find additional providers through the DSHS Vaccine Information page.

For those who are unable to enroll online, DSHS will launch a toll-free number to provide assistance making an appointment with a participating provider or locating another provider that has vaccines available.

DSHS says that Texas has administered more than 9.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, equating to more than six million people with at least one dose and more than three million fully vaccinated.