Health care snapshot: local health care data and information from Brazoria, Galveston counties

It has been over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic struck nationally and locally in southeast Texas.

Each year, the Texas Department of State Health Services releases statewide rankings on various health care factors, including length of life and quality of life factors. Quality of life factors include the number of poor mental and physical health days reported.

Health behaviors factor in smoking, obesity, physical activity, excessive drinking, alcohol-impaired driving deaths, sexually transmitted infections and teen births.

Clinical care includes health insurance coverage; number of physicians, dentists and mental health providers; preventable hospital stays; and flu vaccinations.

Socioeconomic factors consist of educational attainment levels, children in poverty, income inequality and violent crimes.

Physical environment factors are air pollution, drinking water violations, housing problems and long commutes.

COVID-19 vaccine data

Across the country, COVID-19 vaccines have become more widely available, especially for those age 5 and up.

Both Brazoria and Galveston counties are below the state average of 65.71% in vaccination rates. Data is up to date as of June 6.

In total since the counties began tracking, Brazoria and Galveston counties have both each administered more than 500,000 shots.