No hospitals in New Braunfels area make the cut for first round of coronavirus vaccines

Ahead of the arrival of an anticipated 1.4 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services has released the first week’s allocations of vaccine doses in Texas.

During the first week of vaccine availability, which could be as soon as the week of Dec. 14, 224,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be distributed to 109 hospitals in 34 counties across Texas.

Included in the list of hospitals and medical centers set to receive vaccines during the first week are 11 facilities in San Antonio and eight facilities in Austin. No facilities in Comal County or Guadalupe County were listed in the release.

Health care providers throughout the state are currently enrolling in the DSHS online vaccine ordering system and more allocations are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Resolute Health Hospital and Christus Santa Rosa New Braunfels are both enrolled in the program but declined to comment on the vaccine distribution process until after the Food and Drug Administration meets Dec. 10 to discuss Pfizer’s emergency use authorization application.

The FDA is currently reviewing emergency use applications for COVID-19 vaccines submitted by Pfizer and Moderna and is expected to render decisions for both this month.

Both vaccines require two doses, with 21 days between the first and second dose of the Pfizer vaccine and 28 days between the doses of Moderna’s vaccine.

According to Gov. Greg Abbott's three-phase vaccine distribution plan, priority will be given to health care workers, front-line workers and citizens who are at a greater risk of complications or death if they contract the virus.

The vaccine would not be made widely available to the general public until Phase 3 of the distribution plan.