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Austin’s Director of Public Health (APH) says the department needs to change its processes to contact and vaccinate more people in Austin and Travis County after 3 out of 4 appointments are available to receive the first dose. of the vaccine remained unclaimed.
“In conversations with some of my colleagues around the state of Texas, many of us are getting to the point where we have to adapt and change strategies,” Stephanie Hayden-Howard told a joint session of the Austin City Council and Commissioners Court. from Travis County on Tuesday. “Because now we are at a point where the vaccine is more available in our community. So we have to be strategic and start [a hacer] those changes. ”
After Austin Public Health expanded eligibility to all adults, 14,000 appointments became available Monday but only 3,400 were booked.
More appointments to receive the first dose of the vaccine will be available through the health department portal at 7 pm Tuesday.
Councilmember for District 2 Vanessa Fuentes said there is a need to change the way Austin Public Health is communicating with the community because the current system for scheduling immunizations just doesn’t work.
“Much of what we are doing is wonderful and great, but it is done from the point of view that individuals have to come to us,” Fuentes said. “I really want us to move to a neighborhood-centric model where we go to the places where people live. Get out of the online system, disconnect and lower the barriers. [de acceso].”
Austin Public Health has four vans that can be used as mobile vaccination centers. Fuentes says this is a good start, but she doesn’t think it’s enough to meet the current needs of residents.
“We have at least 11 zip codes in our area where there is not a single provider,” Fuentes said. “We have to be mobilizing hand in hand with community organizations and vaccine guides to go to those neighborhoods and tell people where to go to get the vaccine.”
Hayden-Howard said Austin Public Health is investigating ways to vaccinate residents in places like apartment complexes or during food distribution by the Austin school district, rather than requiring people to register online.
Fuentes said the health department should also look for ways to work with nonprofits that are already familiar with the needs of the community, saying it makes a difference when people “recognize the face that is telling them about the vaccine. or how to register. “
“We really need to change our focus and get closer to our community where they live instead of forcing them to understand how the website works,” Fuentes said.
Do you have a news tip? Email Jerry Quijano at [email protected]. You can also follow him on Twitter @jerryquijano.
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