Most state vaccine hubs were forced to temporarily shutter due to the weather, the administrator told Collin County commissioners in their Feb. 22 meeting. Despite this, no vaccine doses were lost, and Collin County facilities storing vaccines were able to retain electricity through statewide rolling blackouts. Since vaccination efforts began months ago, the county said no vaccine doses have gone to waste.
“Last week was, unfortunately, a breather that we didn’t need because we wanted to keep vaccinating,” Bilyeu said. “But across Texas, it is an issue, so everyone will probably be sitting on a week’s worth of doses to try and get back.”
The weeklong break has pushed more residents into the time frame of receiving second doses for full COVID-19 immunity, and Collin County Judge Chris Hill was confident in the county’s ability to simultaneously inoculate first and second doses at sites.
Those registered on the Collin County waitlist prior to its temporary pause will eventually be tapped by the county for their first dose. Once the time for the required second dose comes, Bilyeu said the county’s contracted partner for vaccines, Curative, will automatically reach out to residents.
“We have more capacity to deliver than we have vaccines to deliver,” Hill said. “We would like to have more capacity and more vaccines.”
Commissioners said they have been told by state officials that second doses are wrapped into shipments without any need to specifically request them. As such, Hill noted the county is beginning to see a slight bump in accrued vaccines.
Some commissioners questioned whether Collin County would have to replicate Denton County’s model of administering first and second doses in alternating weeks. Hill said none of the vaccine sites have been close to max capacity and anticipates Curative will be able to administer doses with ease.
“We will be able to do a mix of first doses and second doses on an ongoing basis, so I'm pleased with our paradigm and the way that it's working,” Hill said.
