WACO, Texas — The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is scheduled to arrive at Waco-area hospitals this week. A total of 975 doses will arrive at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest this Friday and Ascension Providence will be getting the same number of doses some time in the next two weeks, according to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.
The health district will not be getting the Pfizer vaccine itself as they do not have the cold storage technology needed to store it, Health District Spokeswoman Kelly Craine said Wednesday.
Craine said the health district would working with other providers to distribute it. Health districts are responsible for getting the vaccine to local clinics, urgent cares and school nurses.
Operations Manager for American Medical Response in Waco Heather Schmidt said AMR would meet with the county to discuss how to roll out the vaccine.
Local doctors urged the public to take the vaccine while speaking at the weekly county update on the COVID-19 response. Waco Mayor Dillon Meek and County Judge Scott Felton were also at the meeting as normal.
"This Vaccine has been tested and has been shown to be safe," Baylor Scott and White Dr. Mark Elieson said. "The vaccine is an answer to many prayers and requests."
Doctors did discuss several of the side effects of the vaccine, which must be taken in two doses three weeks apart.
"It terms of the safety, thousands have already been given it and the side affect profile looks like other vaccines, of course there is always a risk like an allergic response to it, but those are just so exceedingly rare." Dr. Jackson Griggs said.
The second dose of the vaccine may have greater side effects than the first.
"The only difference is there is going to be a little bit more side effects with the second vaccination (shot)," Dr. Richard Haskett said. "A little bit more fatigue, a little bit more of a headache. Mild increases in the amount of chills, muscle and joint pain. The thing to remember is that this is not at all difference than the tetanus shot I had when I was a kid."
Waco-McLennan County Public Health District Preparedness Coordinator Stephanie Alvey gave a presentation on the vaccine's release in the county.
Alvey said the vaccine would not be released to the general public until the summer. Vaccines are currently being given to healthcare staff according to the current plan from The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
McLennan County will have a COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Coalition to iron out what agencies will be providing vaccines in addition to local hospitals.
Baylor Scott & White-Temple and Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on Fort Hood both received 3,900 doses Tuesday.
Bell County Health Immunization Program Manager Kathy Carlisle said Tuesday they also don't have the cold storage for the vaccine because the type of freezer needed is on backorder.
Carlisle said they do have another option to store the vaccine for up to 15 days just in case, but dry ice is required.
"Because the vaccine is in itself a very fragile vaccine, and there are lots of logistic guidelines to giving it, that makes it harder than a normal vaccine that we can keep in a refrigerator," Carlisle said.