Titus County residents ask, 'Where's our Vaccine?'

By NIGEL CHRISTOPHER

Correspondent

Titus County and North East Texas are getting shortchanged in the distribution of the Covid 19 vaccines. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services website show that as of last Thursday February 24th, while 3.2 million (14.3%) Texans 16 and older, have received at least one shot of Covid Vaccine, Titus County only had 2,027 residents (8.3%) who had had received their first dose. If we were at the State average another 1,500 Titus County residents would have been vaccinated by now.

Titus County is not alone in being ignored by the Texas DSHS. Cass County is the lowest in the state with only 1,078 (4.5%) of residents getting their first shot and Bowie not much better at 5,013 (6.8%).

Morris and Upshur Counties are also below Titus at 7.5% and 7.8% respectively.

Hopkins (9.3%) , Camp (9.8%) and Franklin (10.9%) are doing a bit better but still way below the state average.

The Texas DSHS has designated various cisites as vaccination hubs and these clearly show up in the numbers with Gregg (Longview), Smith (Tyler) and Lamar (Paris) all being at are slightly above the state average. Titus County Judge Brian Lee tried to get Mount Pleasant designated as a hub but was rebuffed by the people down in Austin.

DSHS records the persons county of residence when getting the shot, regardless of which location the  person goes to get the shot.

The Titus County Mirror is reaching out to our local State Represnetative Cole Hefner and State Senator Bryan Hughes to see what they can do to help us get our fair share of the vaccine.

 If you want to add your voice to this please contact:

 Cole Hefner     tel.  512-463-0271 or 903-717-8238 Email cole@colehefner.com

 Bryan Hughes  tel  512-463-0101 or 903-581-1776  Email Bryan.hughes@senate.texas.gov