Montgomery County to take over Woodforest Stadium vaccinations in March at cost of $130K per month

Montgomery County is preparing to take over vaccination operations at the Woodforest Bank Stadium in March once it is no longer being operated by hospital system Memorial Hermann.

During a Feb. 23 meeting, Jason Millsaps, chief of staff for County Judge Mark Keough, said the original price point for operating the vaccination hub would be around $180,000 per month. By going through county vendors for supplies such as tents, Millsaps said the price would likely be closer to $130,000.

"[Memorial] Hermann has it until March 1," Millsaps said. "They are going to do their last second doses this Friday and Saturday."

Millsaps said the location is consolidated for the county, and the current operations at the county fairgrounds will be relocated. Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack asked why the county cannot maintain its operations at the fairgrounds, which Millsaps said is only a temporary location.

"The temporary facility definitely reduces my capacity and output," Millsaps said. "We will be at this temporary facility for at least four weeks with Woodforest open to allow [people] to come back for their second shots at the same location they received their first. We will move first shots starting next week if we get to open there."

Keough noted the county taking over operation of the Woodforest Bank Stadium is the most convenient option, as it will allow the county to take over on March 1 instead of waiting an additional week to move supplies.

The funding for the county maintaining the facility will come from county funds, which was decided in a previous meeting.