Vaccine lands at Bowie County hospitals
The Texas State Department of Health reports Sunday, Dec. 20, the following information for Cass County and surrounding areas:
Cass County has a total of 838 confirmed cases, 389 probable cases, 55 active cases and 43 fatalities.
Bowie County has a total of 2,275 confirmed cases, 885 probable cases, 455 active cases and 118 fatalities.
Marion County has a total of 197 confirmed cases, 49 probable cases, 19 active cases and 17 fatalities.
Morris County has a total of 315 confirmed cases, 127 probable cases, 26 active cases and eight fatalities.
Health care workers at both Texarkana area hospitals were vaccinated against the coronavirus Thursday, Dec. 17, after the first shipments of vaccine arrived earlier in the day.
Providers at Wadley Regional Medical Center and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System got the first of two needed injections of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, the first approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. A second injection will follow in 21 days.
Each healthcare facility received via UPS delivered boxes, 975 doses of the vaccine which were packed in dry ice to keep them at the required -94 degrees Fahrenheit.
Both hospitals have received training from Pfizer, TDSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding how to store, handle and administer the vaccine, as well as how to track the health of recipients and are equipped with ultra-low-temperature freezers needed for vaccine storage.
Governor Abbott, FDA Commissioner, CDC Director Hold Call With Texas Hospitals To Discuss COVID-19 Therapeutics
Governor Greg Abbott Friday, Dec. 18, held a call with hospital CEOs, including CHRISTUS Health, and representatives across Texas to discuss the importance of COVID-19 therapeutic antibody treatments in the state’s fight against COVID-19. The Governor was joined for the call by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield, and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD.
The Governor stressed the important role of therapeutic antibody treatments in the state’s ongoing fight against COVID-19 and encouraged health care systems to utilize these tools to reduce hospitalizations.
Following the Governor’s remarks, Dr. Redfield discussed the advancement of therapeutics since the beginning of the pandemic — including remdesivir, bamlanivimab, convalescent plasma and the monoclonal antibody therapy created by Regeneron. Dr. Redfield noted that despite the availability and effectiveness of these treatments, they have not been operationalized fully and should play a much larger role in mitigating COVID-19.
He noted that these therapeutics are designed for outpatient use, especially for those who are at greatest risk for hospitalization and encouraged hospitals to set up a system for people to be evaluated for these treatments immediately upon a positive COVID-19 test.
Dr. Hahn discussed the FDA’s emergency use authorization for therapeutics. He also explained the mechanisms and processes for administering therapeutics and strongly urged hospitals to utilize these treatments in order to reduce hospitalizations.
Dr. Hellerstedt discussed the benefits of expanding access and optimization of therapeutic treatments in Texas. He noted that therapeutics have helped communities respond to COVID-19 by not only shortening stays in the hospital but reducing hospitalizations altogether. Dr. Hellerstedt stressed that the state of Texas has plenty of antibody treatments that are ready to be used by hospitals and healthcare systems across the state and encouraged these health care entities to request these treatments through DSHS.
Governor Abbott concluded the call by restating the importance for hospitals to take full advantage of these antibody treatments. The Governor noted that the state of Texas is ready to work alongside hospitals and health systems to expand access and utilization of these treatments in communities across the state.
DSHS reported Friday, Dec. 18, that Texas expects to receive 620,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine distributed to more than 1,100 providers in 185 Texas counties in Week 2 of vaccine distribution. The CDC will deliver 460,500 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna and 159,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to continue to vaccinate front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
The Moderna vaccine will begin shipping over the weekend and start arriving in Texas on Monday at providers like hospitals, freestanding ERs, EMS providers, pharmacies, local health departments, health centers and other clinics. DSHS encourages providers that have received vaccine to partner with other health care facilities and workers in the area to maximize vaccination.
Most of the Pfizer vaccine, 124,800 doses, will go to the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. Vaccination under the program is expected to begin Dec. 28 in Texas.
The remaining doses will be distributed to 29 hospitals that received Pfizer doses this week to continue vaccinating health care workers.