What we know about the accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines in Plano

PLANO, TX – Of the more than 17,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines distributed to Collin County hospitals, pharmacies and health providers, the county received 1,000 doses—roughly 6%.

“We’re by far not the main source of vaccine, nor will we be,” Collin County Public Information Officer Tim Wyatt said via email. “The state’s plan is to spread the distribution around, not at a centralized point.”

These doses—the first of two doses needed for the Moderna vaccine to be effective—were first administered to those identified as direct- and long-term care personnel as well as people age 65 and older and people who are at least 16 years old and have a chronic condition, according to Wyatt.The county plans to use its remaining 150 doses of the Moderna vaccine to begin working through a more than 1,000-person waiting list, he said. The county allowed people to sign up for additional spots on the waiting list through its website beginning Jan. 5.

In a recorded message, Collin County confirmed that the wait list is for all residents, not just those of cities directly involved in a partnership announced Jan. 6 that will pool local resources to assist with vaccine registration and distribution.

When and how many additional shipments of vaccines will come to the county is currently unknown, according to Wyatt, but the Texas Department of State Health Services is working to distribute vaccines in a way that will make them more easily accessible in time, he said.

The city of Plano received an initial shipment of 500 vaccines for its emergency and public safety staff. All doses have been administered as of Jan. 4, although there were not enough doses to vaccinate all public safety personnel, city staff said.

City staff and residents who have not been vaccinated but meet the qualifications for the first phase of distribution are encouraged to find other providers, city staff shared. This is the same advice given by both Denton and Collin counties as doses are claimed.

Those other vaccine providers, largely made up of local health providers and pharmacies, can be located through an interactive map created by the state. However, not all of these locations are vaccinating the public or all of the groups identified in the first phase of vaccination.

Collin and Denton counties will continue to update their vaccine information websites as more information becomes available and as counties open vaccines up to more qualifiers. Vaccines are not restricted to county residents only, Denton County staff shared.

The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Texas began in December with hospitals. Both the Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech vaccines have been approved for shipment across the state.

The state has created an online dashboard to help track vaccinations in Texas. As of Jan. 4, officials reported 944,275 doses have been shipped, and 414,211 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.