![]() Older people, who comprise about 13% of Texas’ population, are the most likely to be hospitalized and die from the virus. Half of all Texans age 65 and older have received at least one dose, which accounts for nearly 2 million people and almost half of all doses administered in Texas, according to DSHS numbers. ![]() Reports of people crossing state and county lines to get vaccinated triggered clamp-downs in Florida. Social media is rife with personal stories of people either getting the shot out of turn or angrily complaining about seemingly ineligible people getting vaccines while prioritized people sit on waiting lists. States like New York are struggling to vaccinate people of color while white residents line up at vaccination hubs aimed at communities of color. ![]() Headline-grabbing stories in Texas and across the nation tell of the battle between the qualifieds and the unqualifieds. The state also does not keep track of how many people are on waiting lists for the vaccine, because Texas has more than 1,500 of vaccine providers, each has a different system and some people are on several waiting lists simultaneously. Quantifying the incidents and impact of line jumpers is impossible, officials say. “The ethical thing to do is to wait until it’s your turn, even though I do know that it’s frustrating for a lot of folks,” said Allison Winnike, president and CEO of The Immunization Partnership, a statewide nonprofit focused on eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases. And from backlash over an older Texas state senator getting his vaccine before his age group became eligible to reports of young, seemingly healthy college students lining up to get shots on campus with little more than a student ID, anecdotal evidence shows that not everyone follows it. The result is that providers are largely operating on the honor system. Many qualifying conditions, such as diabetes or sickle cell disease, aren’t easily confirmed without them. While many providers say they believe, based on anecdotal evidence and state data, that most people who are getting the vaccine are eligible, they acknowledge that it’s difficult to confirm eligibility and enforce requirements beyond a person’s age when there are no medical records to check. ![]() “We don’t want to create barriers that would prevent people from getting vaccinated, and every person who is vaccinated slows the spread of the disease and relieves pressure on the hospital system,” Anton said. She added that the state does not want to make it more difficult for people to get the shot by requiring them to bring medical records. Between 10 and 13 million people are eligible for the vaccine under Texas guidelines, said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services.Īnton said that if a provider has access to a recipient’s medical records - for example if the person is an existing patient - those may be used to verify a person’s medical eligibility, but providers are not allowed, under state health guidelines, to require recipients to prove a medical condition. About 4.3 million people in Texas - or roughly 14% of the state’s population - have gotten at least one dose. Current state guidelines require recipients to be 65 or older, a front line health care worker, employed as a teacher or child care worker or medically vulnerable and older than 15.
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