Hill Country Memorial (HCM) will now be offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people classified as Phase 1C, according to James Partin, M.D., Internal Medicine, Chief Medical Officer for Hill Country Memorial.
“Phase 1C means it includes anyone age 50 to 64, with no limits based on medical condition,” Partin said. “That essentially means we can now vaccinate anyone age 50 and older, with Phase 1A and 1B still in effect. That will cover the vast majority of people who are most at-risk for this disease.”
As a distribution hub, HCM has adjusted the signup and registration process to accommodate the expanded eligibility. All individuals who register will be placed in a queue with a time stamp, with vaccinations scheduled in the order of signup, regardless of age or medical condition.
HCM’s vaccination hub has been offering the Moderna version since it was designated as a distribution hub. Partin estimates approximately 13,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered by HCM through the beginning of March. He encourages anyone unvaccinated to get the first vaccine available to them, whether Moderna, Pfizer, or the new single-dose Johnson & Johnson version which HCM has requested.
For Partin, expanding the base of eligible recipients and anticipation of more vaccines bode well for reaching the end of this pandemic.
“I am really encouraged by how the numbers have continued to stay low and are getting lower,” Partin said. “It is very encouraging.”
The next step from the federal level is to open the vaccine’s eligibility to everyone by May 1, depending on availability of supplies.
Despite the positive news, Partin warns it is not the time to stop being careful.
“We need to monitor the numbers to make sure there is no harm from spring break and Easter holidays,” he said. “And we still encourage everyone to get the vaccine available to them. Opening up Phase 1C is an opportunity for us to help our HCM family with wider distribution of the vaccine.”