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Ron Votral receives a vaccine in opposition to the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) at a drive-through vaccination web site in Robstown, Texas, February 9, 2021.
Go Nakamura | Reuters
Texas will enable residents ages 50 and over to obtain Covid-19 vaccines starting March 15, changing into essentially the most populated U.S. state to develop eligibility to the age group up to now, the state’s division of well being introduced on Wednesday.
Up to now, Texas has allowed front-line health-care employees, folks with underlying well being circumstances and people 65 and older to obtain a shot. The state introduced final week that it could instantly embody college and child-care employees to its vaccine eligibility listing as effectively.
By increasing eligibility to folks over 50, the state goals to guard folks most in danger for extreme illness from the virus, the division mentioned in a press release. The transfer will add 5 million extra Texans to the state’s precedence listing, although greater than 1 million of them have already been vaccinated.
“Increasing to ages 50 to 64 will proceed the state’s priorities of defending these on the best threat of extreme outcomes and preserving the state’s well being care system,” Imelda Garcia, Division of State Well being Companies affiliate commissioner for laboratory and infectious illness providers, mentioned in a press release.
Greater than half of the state’s seniors have acquired a minimum of one dose of vaccine and practically a 3rd are totally vaccinated, based on the DSHS.
Wednesday additionally marked the tip of the Lone Star State’s masks mandate, and companies are actually allowed to reopen at 100% capability, Gov. Greg Abbott introduced final week, pointing to the state’s enhance in vaccine eligibility, decline in new circumstances and ample hospital capability as reasoning.
Alaska on Tuesday turned the primary state to open vaccine eligibility to all residents who’re 16 and older.
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