EMS DIRECTOR DISCUSSES REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR VACCINE SUBHUB, TIMELINE FOR MORE VACCINES

  

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue at the Washington County Expo, officials are making preparations to ensure residents can more easily register to receive the next shipment of vaccines.

EMS Director Kevin Deramus spoke at Tuesday’s Washington County Commissioners meeting, where he went over how the Regional Vaccination subHUB handled receiving hundreds of thousands of calls from residents looking to get vaccinated.

Deramus admitted that getting people registered to receive vaccines quickly has been difficult, but the problem is not exclusive to this location.

 

According to Faith Mission Executive Director Reverend Randy Wells, there were ten incoming capable phone lines to receive calls at the call center.  Deramus said the phone software, which was handled by county IT Director T.J. Harris, allowed call takers to reach out to callers to get them registered.

 

Deramus said the callback list can be used once the subHUB receives more vaccines from the state to pick up where this past round of registration left off, but believes many on the list will likely get vaccines from other providers in the time it takes to get another vaccine shipment.  That being the case, he said the list will likely be old and have to be reset when more vaccines arrive, which he said could be as soon as next week or take up to a few months.

According to the City of Brenham, over 100,000 callers remain on the callback list.  An automated message will be going out starting today (Wednesday) informing those on the list that the registration process has closed.  Deramus said callers should be given automated instructions on how to stay on the list.  If and when more vaccines are received, those on the callback list will be notified by either call or email.

According to Deramus, 500 people were scheduled to be vaccinated by the end of Tuesday.  The federal government and the State of Texas allocated 2,000 vaccines to the subHUB.  He estimated that around 50 people could go through the current vaccination drive-thru each hour, but believes that number could be pushed to 100 per hour with more vaccines, meaning approximately 1,200 vaccinations could take place in a 12-hour day.

Deramus said there has been “overwhelming support” from volunteers, adding there were 64 people from 26 different agencies represented Monday during the test pilot for the subHUB.  Commissioner Joy Fuchs said this has been a “great team effort,” with County Judge John Durrenberger saying a team needs to have a leader, and commended Deramus for leading this effort.