Fort Bend County Judge KP George Letter About COVID-19 Vaccine

Dear Neighbors,

Many of you have called, emailed, and communicated with questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. I appreciate the community’s overwhelming support and urgency to get this essential vaccine. There is hope on the horizon to end this pandemic, but, in the meantime, we cannot and must not let our guards down.

At this time, Fort Bend County partners such as our hospitals and private healthcare providers are working around the clock to administer the extremely limited supply of vaccine to frontline workers, those above the age of 65, and others identified as priority groups by the State. Due to no centralized sign up system, distribution plan, or notification system developed by those in charge of vaccine rollout, you must work with the public list of providers to obtain a vaccine at http://bit.ly/2WSDFZ2.  

Fort Bend County Health and Human Services and many local partners have received approval to administer the vaccine, but still have not received a dose. In the chance, the State of Texas delivers vaccines today, tomorrow, or anytime, I have instructed the Health Department to ensure we can begin the highly sensitive storage and rapid administration of this vaccine in priority order. We are ready to go. Unfortunately, like many local governments in similar situations, we have no idea when the State of Texas will ship more or how many which is why we are prepared for all situations.

Companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and others have developed the vaccine at “Warp Speed,” but, vaccine distribution has lagged in Texas and across the USA. Even though the Governor’s executive orders severely limit what local governments can do in emergency situations, I have asked the State for more vaccines to Fort Bend, so we can get it out at hyper-speed to all that need and want them – with the goal of making it universally accessible. From asking the Governor to designate teachers, non-profit organizations, and other critical frontline staff to getting as many doses as possible, we will fight for our residents.

I still remember my father, a truck driver, and my mother making all of my siblings and I pray to God every day with gratitude even when we didn’t have food, more than a pair of good clothes, or other basic necessities in our impoverished little village on the other side of the world. I continue to wake up every single day thankful and beyond blessed by God that I have been given the privilege of living in the USA. Even though we live in the most rich and powerful country on earth, we have a lot of work ahead of us.

As the Federal and State government continue to distribute vaccine to healthcare providers and until our community is adequately vaccinated, it is important to continue healthy practices such as physical distancing, wearing facial coverings, washing hands often, and avoiding all gatherings. It has been a difficult year, but there is hope on the horizon.

Sincerely,
KP George
County Judge
Fort Bend County