BRENHAM PHARMACIES PERFORMING PHASE 1A COVID-19 VACCINATIONS; NO CLEAR TIMETABLE FOR PHASE 1B

  

As COVID-19 vaccines are distributed and administered across the state, many are left wondering when it will be their turn to receive a vaccine.

In Brenham, 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine were given to the Brookshire Brothers pharmacy, and another 100 doses were allocated to the H-E-B pharmacy.  These came as part of Phase 1A of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) vaccine distribution, which targets healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities exclusively.

Both the Brookshire Brothers and H-E-B pharmacies have automated messages informing residents of their COVID-19 vaccine procedures when calling.

Brookshire Brothers’ phone message says it will follow the priority grouping as designated by the state when administering vaccines.  It says vaccines are not yet available to the general public, but when that happens, notices will be posted in stores and online at www.brookshirebrothers.com/pharmacy, along with instructions on scheduling an appointment to receive a vaccine.

Fred Dahmann, lead pharmacist at Brookshire Brothers in Brenham, said residents 65 years old and older or have certain medical conditions, as specified in Phase 1B, can call to make an appointment.  However, no timetable was available as to when those appointments would be fulfilled, as the priority currently remains with healthcare workers and long-term care residents.

Meanwhile, H-E-B’s message states that its pharmacy is only vaccinating healthcare workers in Phase 1A at this time.  It says once all willing healthcare workers have been vaccinated and additional vaccines are received, it will move to the next phase of vaccinations.  Customers will be notified online at www.heb.com/pharmacy when that happens.

When speaking with pharmacy officials at the Brenham H-E-B, they reiterated that only healthcare workers are being vaccinated right now.  They also stated that residents in Phase 1B can make appointments to receive a vaccine, but as with Brookshire Brothers, no timeline was available.

DSHS has indicated Phase 1B recipients could begin receiving vaccines this week if supplies are available and providers are willing, but supplies are limited, and the state is expected to remain in Phase 1A for several weeks.  The department has a map of providers across the state that have received the vaccine; however, it does not show whether they have vaccines available for those in Phase 1B.

This Monday, vaccines began arriving at long-term care facilities in Texas.  Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens partnered with the federal government to administer vaccines to long-term care facilities, and Governor Greg Abbott announced earlier this month that the state would participate in the federal program.

As part of week three of the state’s vaccine allocation, the Brenham State Supported Living Center was slated to receive 300 vaccine doses.

Vaccines are estimated to be widely available in the spring, but that window may change based on how quickly vaccines are produced.

Click here to read more on DSHS' COVID-19 vaccine plans.