WilCo Inoculates 2,500-Plus Residents Against Coronavirus

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Some 2,530 residents received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday at a pair of vaccination sites in Williamson County, officials said Thursday.

Through Family Hospital Systems, the county received 6,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine from the Texas Department of State Health Services Wednesday morning, officials said. Family Hospital Systems was named a state-approved COVID-19 vaccination hub on Saturday, officials noted.

Once the doses were secured, vaccinations started at noon on Tuesday at both a drive-thru clinic at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex and a walk-in site at the Sun City Texas ballroom, officials said. Both vaccination sites are open to all residents in the state’s Phase 1b group who preregistered through Family Hospital Systems.

Previous coverage: WilCo Activates COVID-19 Vaccination Plan

“We are very grateful to the governor and the state’s trust in Williamson County in providing the vaccines, but the truth is we are ready to administer more,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said in a prepared statement. “We are grateful for what we received, but the doses that we received we believe will be out within the next two days.”

For the time being, county officials said, all appointments to receive the 6,000 doses are being scheduled with individuals that are already preregistered. "The county understands the urgency of getting more vaccines on hand and is working closely with the state to fill the need of its residents," officials added.

Residents eligible to receive the vaccine under the Phase 1b can sign up to be on the Family Hospital Systems waitlist by visiting the county's COVID-19 Vaccine Information portal.

The Williamson County and Cities Health District received its first allotment of 900 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in December for Phase 1A distribution centered on emergency workers.

The latest doses to be distributed came on the first day the county began offering vaccinations through its pair of hubs located in Georgetown at 2 Texas Dr. and North Austin site at 10211 W. Parmer Lane.

The vaccine now is being distributed under Phase 1B of the process, which includes people 65 years of age and older, and people 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, such as but not limited to:

• Cancer.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies.
• Solid organ transplantation.
• Obesity an
• d severe obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher).
• Pregnancy.
• Sickle cell disease.
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus.