West RGV News

City of Edinburg issued the following announcement.

The UTRGV School of Medicine and its care team, UT Health RGV, continue to safely and efficiently administer the COVID-19 vaccine based on group prioritization and vaccine availability. UT Health RGV announced receiving a total of 900 total doses of the Moderna vaccine at the UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center in Mercedes and the UTRGV Clinical Education Building in Harlingen.

Please remember that both the amount of vaccine doses and the sites at which they are delivered are determined by state and federal health officials. UT Health RGV is committed to vaccinating eligible members of the Rio Grande Valley at all of our approved sites as dosages are received there. It is also important to note that the Pfizer vaccine is not available for patients under 16 years old and the Moderna vaccine is not available for patients under 18 years old.

At this time, due to current supply and demand and capacity concerns at our testing sites, UT Health RGV will NOT distribute vaccines on a first-come, first-serve, walk-in basis. These distribution plans can lead to long lines and hours-long waits — two factors that could increase your exposure to COVID-19 at a time when cases are increasing.

Instead, UT Health RGV is confident it can administer its doses safely and efficiently by allowing eligible individuals to register now and to receive an appointment when vaccines are available.

In addition, please keep in mind that:

• There is a limited supply of vaccines, so register as soon as possible. As of Monday morning, over 4,000 individuals had already registered with UT Health RGV.
• Once vaccines run out, we must wait until another shipment arrives. Your patience is appreciated during these early stages of the nationwide vaccination process when doses are limited.
• It is necessary to first register to receive an appointment for the vaccine.

The vaccine will only be administered to the three groups of individuals who have been prioritized by state health officials to receive the vaccine first:

• Frontline employees who have heightened exposure to the virus or who must remain healthy to support others as cases surge.
• Individuals ages 65 and older.

Individuals ages 65 and younger* who, according to state and federal health care officials, have an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 because they have the following comorbidities:

• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Immunocompromised diseases
• Chronic lung diseases
• Sickle cell disease
• Chronic heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Chronic neurological diseases
• Morbid obesity
• Pregnancy

If you fall within any of these groups, please register now with UT Health RGV by completing this online form. Individuals with any of the comorbidities listed above will be asked to self-disclose their condition in order to secure an appointment.

After registering, you will be contacted by a UT Health RGV representative to schedule your appointment as vaccines are available. Again, the location of your appointment will be determined by where vaccine doses are available.

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION

UT Health RGV will begin administering the Moderna vaccine by appointment only from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the following days and at the following locations:

• Tuesday, Dec. 29 — UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center, Mercedes and Clinical Education Building, Harlingen  
• Wednesday, Dec. 30 – UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center, Mercedes and Interdisciplinary Academic Building, Brownsville

Thursday, Dec. 31 — UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center, Mercedes and Clinical Education Building, Harlingen 

While awaiting your turn for the vaccine, please adhere to mask-wearing, social-distancing and hygiene protocols and guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Original source can be found here.