COLLEGE STATION, TX — One hundred and nine hospitals across the state of Texas have received the Pfizer vaccine.
“I’ll never forget today, December 17th, when we received the first vaccine of COVID-19,” said Jason Jennings, Regional President for Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center - College Station.
On Monday, UPS began delivering vaccines to major cities in the state. During Thursday’s morning press conference, Governor Greg Abbott said as of Wednesday night, 95,000 doses have been delivered.
“Today [Thursday], an additional 129,000 doses will be delivered across the state of Texas. So that means for this week, we have about 224,000 doses of vaccines that will be delivered,” said Governor Abbott.
Ascension Providence, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Hillcrest and Baylor Scott & White - College Station each received 975 doses Thursday.
Baylor Scott & White campuses will start administering their vaccines Friday morning, while nurses with Ascension Providence were vaccinated this afternoon.
“You're kind of making history being one of the first people that are receiving it, whether it’s at Ascension or just in the world receiving the vaccine," said Brooke Fielder, a registered nurse at Ascension Providence.
Jason Jennings with Baylor Scott & White says the excitement of having the COVID-19 vaccine in house can be felt throughout the hallways, as healthcare workers know they soon will be vaccinated.
"Extreme excitement about the vaccine. I mean, there's always excitement around Christmas, but even more excitement that it's something we have been waiting for for some time. But for our hospital to be chosen to deliver the vaccine in its first week, it’s excitement but also being proud,” said Jennings.
While not all hospitals in the state received doses as part of week one’s distribution, Governor Abbott says distribution will increase in the coming weeks.
"This is going to increase, as I pointed out earlier. Next week, when we have not just the Pfizer vaccine but also the Moderna vaccine, and that will allow us to be well over a million people who will be vaccinated just in the state of Texas alone, just this month,” he said.
Governor Abbott also says the state could begin widening vaccine distribution to not just hospitals as early as next week.
"We will be delivering to not just hospitals but healthcare clinics, pharmacies, free-standing emergency rooms, urgent care centers, long-term healthcare facilities will be receiving these vaccines later on this month, as well as local health departments, state hospitals and state-supported living centers,” he said.