United Medical Centers Administers Second COVID-19 Vaccine Dose to Staff Members
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
United Medical Centers (UMC) Chief Executive Officer William Worrell announced that a total of 100 staff members at the community healthcare organization at the Eagle Pass, Texas Veterans Blvd. Medical Clinic will be receiving their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine starting on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
United Medical Centers received 100 Moderna COVID-19 vaccines by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in December 2020 among the first 500 vaccines issued to Maverick County.
Worrell noted that 30 staff members were receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on January 20 and anther 70 on Monday and Tuesday, January 25-26, 2021.
Worrell stated that the administration of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines went smoothly and efficiently among staff members and UMC is working on obtaining sufficient vaccines from DSHS for its entire staff and patients in the future.
Worrell noted that DSHS has implemented a multiple phase program for administering the COVID-19 vaccine among Texans. Currently, Phase 1-A and 1-B are in effect for healthcare workers, frontline and essential workers, people 65 and older, and people 16 and older with chronic health conditions such as cardiology issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, COPD, diabetes, and other conditions.
Worrell stated that whenever UMC obtains an allocation for its patients, they will notify the patients on when and how they can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, Worrell encouraged people to register with the Maverick County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) through the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County websites to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as DSHS has issued 1,200 vaccines to EOC for a period of six weeks, totaling 7,200 vaccines for Maverick County residents.
Worrell noted that approximately 30 percent of people offered the COVID-19 vaccine have declined to take it. Worrell recommended Maverick County residents take the COVID-19 vaccine and follow the CDC Guidelines of wearing a face mask, wash hands with soap regularly, use hand sanitizer regularly, practice social distancing of six feet or greater, avoid large gatherings, limit travel to essential matters, and stay home to avoid community spread of COVID-19 in the community.
