TEXAS — Texas has surpassed 1 million cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University data. That puts Texas, the country’s second-most populous state, ahead of all others for total cases.
The recent COVID-19 spike has had a devastating effect on the El Paso region, where hospital and ICU beds are in short supply and additional mobile morgues have been requested.
News on Monday that drug manufacturer Pfizer has developed a vaccine that testing so far has indicated is 90% effective is promising, and on Tuesday Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released information about the state’s plans for distribution when it’s ready.
“The State of Texas has prepared allocation plans to swiftly distribute medicines and vaccines that are now becoming available to treat #COVID19,” Abbott wrote in a tweet.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Service's (DSHS) Vaccine Distribution Plan, the agency will “initiate an outreach campaign to potential COVID-19 vaccine providers.”
DSHS stated it estimates up to 14,000 may register to order and administer the vaccine. Further, the agency said it will seek to direct vaccine in the manner that best reaches recommended target groups.
It’s anticipated that that approach may leave gaps with regard to high-risk individuals and groups, and DHSH said it will fill such gaps with strike teams.
DSHS further acknowledged it anticipates a great deal of resistance to the vaccine in Texas and plans to counter that by “sharing credible and accurate information.”
In addition to the vaccine, Texas is preparing to obtain and distribute two medicines designed to treat people with COVID-19.
The first is an antibody drug developed by Eli Lilly & Co. called bamlanivimab, which has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and has been shown to improve COVID-19 symptoms.
The second is a similar antibody treatment developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company has requested emergency use authorization from the FDA. It is stated that President Donald Trump took the drug when he contracted the disease in October.