The City of Dallas is expected to receive 5,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the State of Texas to distribute to the public this week, according to a city press release.
The city has previously only received doses to inoculate public safety workers and is currently partnered with Dallas County to distribute the county’s doses at Fair Park.
Per the release, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has advocated in recent weeks for state officials to allow the city to directly distribute vaccine doses.
The recent 5,000-dose allocation will be distributed in an appointment-based drive-up process at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The Office of Emergency Management is also assessing other sites for future vaccine distributions.
The city will pull names of eligible residents from the existing Dallas County Health and Human Services registration database. Eligible residents will be contacted by the City of Dallas to schedule an appointment time. The site will be open between 10 a.m and 7 p.m. on weekdays and one weekend day, depending on availability.
Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics will administer the vaccine. Those vaccinated will be provided information on when to receive their second dose at a future date.
“I am excited and ready to get these highly effective, life-saving vaccines to the public,” Mayor Johnson said in the release. “As I have said, the City of Dallas is ready to help the state take its vaccination efforts to the next level. We will do so equitably, efficiently, and without political influence.”
The Dallas City Council will hold a special-called meeting tonight at 7 p.m. focused on the registration and deployment of the vaccine. To join virtually, click here.