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I'M LASHONDRA SHAW PIO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S MEDIA AVAILABILITY.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE ON ATX IN THREE TO START AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
ADRIAN STIRRUP WILL FIRST SAY A FEW WORDS FOLLOWED BY DR.
MARK S. SCOTT, INTERIM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY.
THEN CASSANDRA DAILYOM APH CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION.
WE WILL THEN OPEN IT UP TO OUR POLL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEDIA, ADRIAN, OVER TO YOU.
GOOD MORNING, ANDREA AND STIR FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
UM, METHODS FOR THIS MORNING, GET TESTED IT'S ALLERGIES AND THE SEASON WE'RE ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS, BUT WE'RE ALSO ENCOUNTERING THOSE LITTLE SNIFFLES AND, AND, AND DRIPS.
AND IF YOU HAVE THAT INCLINATION THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING MORE, GO AHEAD AND GET THE TEST.
IT TAKES LESS THAN 15 MINUTES.
THERE ARE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO IT'S, IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY, ISOLATE UNTIL YOU GET THAT NEGATIVE TEST.
IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING YOUR BEST AND YOU GONE HAD THAT, INTUITION HAS GOT YOU TESTED, TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR FAMILY AND LOVE WINS JUST IN CASE.
AND LASTLY, WE ARE AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, WE CAN SEE THE LINE, WE'RE EXPECTING A SURGE IN VACCINATIONS, BUT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT, THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING OVER TO YOU.
AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE ANOTHER HOLIDAY COMING UP.
WE HAVE EASTER, WE HAVE PASSOVER, HOLY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY SATURDAY, EASTER SUNDAY COMING ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE WANT TO CELEBRATE.
WE WANT TO GO TO CHURCH IN PERSON.
WE WANT TO, TO CELEBRATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE HOLY DAYS, BUT WE'RE AT A, AT A TIME NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
I WAS HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE DONE WITH THIS BY NOW, BUT WE'RE NOT.
AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO STAY IN THE COURSE.
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE PROTECTIONS AND GET THROUGH THIS HOLIDAY, UH, WITHOUT COSTING PEOPLES LIVES.
AND THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, YOU NEEDED TO EVALUATE YOUR RISK LEVEL.
AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG, IF YOU'RE A HIGH RISK INDIVIDUAL OR YOU LIVE IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH SOMEONE WHO'S AT HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE, YOU SHOULD STAY HOME.
UH, IF YOU'RE LOWER RISK AND YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO CHURCH IN PERSON FOLLOW THOSE, THOSE SAFETY GUIDELINES, WHERE ARE YOUR MEDS, MAKE SURE YOUR DISTANCE FROM OTHERS, MAKE SURE YOU'RE WASHING OR USING HAND SANITIZER OFTEN TO AVOID TRANSMISSION.
IF WE DO THESE THINGS TOGETHER, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE DOWN TRANSMISSION IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND WE CAN BUY MORE TIME TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.
WE ARE SAYING CASES SURGE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'VE SEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS, NEW CASES INCREASE AROUND THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S ALREADY ONE STATES ARE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE, WE, WE CAN'T BE TOO PLEASED WITH THE SITUATION LOCALLY AND THE SITUATION IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE AS WE HAVE LEARNED, UH, IN, IN THE PAST YEAR THAT HE'S CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.
SO IF WE MAINTAIN THOSE PROTECTIONS AND KEEP OUR NUMBERS DOWN AND GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED AND AVOID THAT THIRD SEARCH HERE, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WHEN CRA IN PARTICULAR PROTECT THE OLDER AND MORE VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILIES, AND THAT MEANS CONTINUING THOSE PROTECTIONS, THIS EASTER, WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO CASSIE DELEON.
UM, AND JUST TO GIVE SOME UPDATES ON WHERE WE ARE, AS FAR AS OUR VACCINE OPERATIONS, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND ADD NEW VACCINE LOCATIONS.
SO THAT VACCINE CLINICS ARE AVAILABLE MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK.
AND FROM THE BEGINNING OF OUR OPERATIONS, BACK IN JANUARY TO TODAY'S DATE, WE HAVE VACCINATED OVER 180,000 INDIVIDUALS JUST WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ALONE.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF VACCINE OPTIONS HAPPENING, A LOT OF CLINICS THAT ARE OCCURRING EVEN OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT WE ARE PUSHING A LOT OF VACCINE, UM,
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ACROSS THE BOARD.AND SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHEN, UM, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINE AND VACCINES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO GET THAT VACCINE, TO MAKE SURE TO, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND GET THE VACCINE.
WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT IF YOU ARE, DO YOUR SECOND DOSE, THAT YOU DON'T DELAY, TRY TO GET BACK AND GET YOUR APPOINTMENT BY THE 28TH DAY.
UM, AND, AND TRY NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THAT 42ND DAY, TRY TO GET YOUR VACCINE WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU ARE CARRYING ANYONE WHO'S HESITANT ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE, ISN'T SURE, AND YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED, BE THAT AMBASSADOR, TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET THEIR VACCINE.
THE SOONER WE ALL GET VACCINATED AND WE ALL CAN, UM, UH, BE PROTECTED.
WE CAN GET BACK TO A MORE NORMAL SCENARIO WHERE WE CAN, UM, SEE FOLKS WE HAVEN'T SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR, UM, ENGAGE IN THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO BUY TO DO SUCH AS, UM, UH, GOING OUT TO DINNER AND WHATNOT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO, TO, TO GET LAX.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE ALL OF THESE PROTECTION CONTROL MEASURES.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO REALLY BUCKLE DOWN OR THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ONLY GATHER WITH THOSE WHO ARE WITHIN YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND WITH THOSE THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, YOU DON'T OPEN YOURSELF UP FOR ADDITIONAL INFECTION OR, UM, POTENTIAL, UM, UM, ADD MORE SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN A SET FOR MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, NOW OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER SANGITA, MENNEN FROM K U T.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM KUT.
ASCOT, YOU TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE GATHERING FOR EASTER SERVICES THIS WEEKEND? AGAIN, I TH I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT COVID IS STILL HERE AND THAT WE STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE PROTECTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR THE PAST YEAR.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF TEMPTATION, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE SETTLING DOWN HERE LOCALLY, MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED AND THERE'S THIS GROWING SENSE OF WE'RE DONE WITH THIS, BUT WE'RE NOT.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT, THAT THIS MAY CATAPULT US IN, INTO ANOTHER SURGE IF WE ARE TOO RELAXED WITH THOSE PROTECTIONS, UH, THIS WEEKEND.
SO AGAIN, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T GATHER IN LARGE GROUPS, PARTICULARLY WITHOUT MASKS ON.
UH, BUT IF, IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO GATHER DESPITE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, IF THEY FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDELINES, THE MASKING, THE DISTANCING, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, WHEN THEY'RE AROUND OLDER PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO MAY BE VULNERABLE, THAT'LL HELP TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT RISK.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I USUALLY LOVE TO BE IN PERSON IN CHURCH THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY OF HOLY WEEK.
IT'S HARD FOR MY FAMILY NOT TO BE THERE IN PERSON, UH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO VIRTUAL THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THAT PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO MODIFY WHAT IS NORMAL FOR THEM, PARTICULARLY DURING THESE CELEBRATIONS, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT SAFE PRACTICE AND, UH, AND HOPEFULLY DRIVE DOWN DISEASE, BRO.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CVS, AUSTIN, PFIZER SAYS IT'S A VACCINE IS 100% EFFECTIVE IN KIDS FROM 12 TO 15 YEARS OLD AND IS TRYING TO GET EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A PUSH FOR THIS BEFORE STUDENTS START CLASSES THIS FALL? AND WHAT IS THE VACCINATION AND WHAT IS THE VACCINATION SITUATION FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS? DO YOU EXPECT THOSE CLINICAL TRIALS TO PROGRESS AS QUICKLY? SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY VACCINE EFFICACY IS DETERMINED IN CHILDREN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PFIZER MADRONA TRIALS FROM LAST YEAR, THEY VACCINATED A GROUP AND THEY HAD A PLACEBO GROUP AND THEN THEY WAITED UNTIL A CERTAIN NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN EITHER GROUP DEVELOPED THE DISEASE AND THEY UNBLINDED IT TO DETERMINE HOW MANY IN THE VACCINE GROUP, HOW MANY IN THE PLACEBO GROUP TO DETERMINE THE EFFICACY FOR CHILDREN, WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE VACCINATING THE CHILDREN AND THEN ASSESSING THE ANTIBODY LEVELS TO DETERMINE IF THE ANTIBIOTIC LEVELS WHICH HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN ADULTS TO BE PROTECTIVE, ARE HAPPENING IN CHILDREN.
THAT'S WHERE THAT, THAT EFFICACY COMES FROM.
SO IT IS A, A, A ENDPOINT WHICH IS QUICKER TO OBTAIN.
UH, YOU CAN ASSESS THAT, YOU KNOW, ITALY AT LEAST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VACCINATION, UH, IS, IS COMPLETED.
SO I EXPECT THAT FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, UH, THAT THOSE VACCINE TRIALS WILL, WILL BE, UH, QUICKER THAN THEY WERE FOR THE, THE INITIAL
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TRIALS.UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, PFIZER AND MODERNA BOTH HAVE ARMS OF THEIR TRIALS INVESTIGATING CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 12.
SO IT IS FEASIBLE THAT OVER THE SUMMER THAT THOSE RESULTS MAY BE AVAILABLE TO ALLOW FOR SOME, UH, SOME UTILIZATION IN CHILDREN.
THE OTHER THING WITH THE CHILDREN IS THE DOSING MAY BE DIFFERENT.
SO WHEN YOU GO FROM 16 TO 12 AND KEPT THE DOSING REGIMEN THE SAME, BUT WHEN YOU GO YOUNGER, PEOPLE ARE SMALLER.
UH, IN THE, THE OTHER QUESTION IS WHAT DOSE DO WE NEED, UH, FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN OF ALL AGENTS? SO THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE, BUT, UH, I THINK THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PROMISING RESULTS, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
UH, AND FOR THEM, IT GIVES US ENOUGH TIME TO, UH, TO RING ABOUT VACCINATION, UH, TO REACH THOSE GROUPS, TO MAKE IT MUCH SAFER IN THE FALL, UH, FOR THE RETURN TO MORE REGULAR IN-PERSON EDUCATION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LAYER IN AS WE ARE ANTICIPATING ADDITIONAL, UM, POTENTIAL FOR A VACCINE, UH, TO COME ON BOARD ONLINE AS THOSE, UM, TRIALS, UH, WRAP UP AND, UH, POTENTIALLY WE HAVE COVID VACCINE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN.
UM, I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE THAT.
WE KNOW WE BECAUSE OF COVID AND, UM, SOME OF THE LACK OF ABILITY TO GET INTO DOCTOR'S OFFICES FOR WELL CHECKS FOR CHILDREN.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN ARE UP-TO-DATE ON ALL THEIR VACCINATIONS.
SO, UM, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO GET YOUR CHILD TO COVID VACCINE, PLEASE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UP TO DATE ON THEIR CURRENT, UM, VACCINE, ALL OTHER VACCINES.
UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, UM, EVERY, THEY HAVE FULL PROTECTION FOR ALL OF THE OTHER CHILDHOOD, UM, VACCINES, UM, THAT, THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM AT THIS TIME.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KSAN.
WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY ADULT WILL BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH? WHY IS THAT ALREADY AVAILABLE IN OTHER AREAS OF TEXAS? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO START THAT ONE.
UH, IT'S AVAILABLE IN TRAVIS COUNTY AS WELL THROUGH MANY PROVIDERS.
UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH RIGHT NOW IS FOCUSING ON THE ONE, A ONE B ONE C GROUP ARE OUR, UH, CHILDCARE STAFF AND OUR, UH, EDUCATION STAFF.
UH, BASICALLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THAT WAITING LIST THAN WE HAVE VACCINES AVAILABLE.
UH, SO WHEN WE SEE THOSE NUMBERS IN THOSE PRIORITY GROUPS DROP ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR US TO, UH, TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR OTHER ADULTS WHO WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY THE TIMELINE FOR THAT.
UH, WE HAVE PEOPLE ON OUR WAITING LIST WHO ARE ON OTHER WAITING LISTS FOR OTHER, UH, VACCINE PROVIDERS.
SO ONCE WE REACHED THAT, THAT PARTICULAR POINT, THEN WE WILL INTRODUCE THE, UH, THE VACCINATION FOR ANY ADULT, UH, UNTIL THEN WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LOOK FOR OTHER SOURCES OF VACCINE.
NOW, THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE NOW, AND WE EXPECT THAT AS THE VACCINE SUPPLY IMPROVES, WHICH WE EXPECT IT WILL IN THE COMING WEEKS, THERE WILL BE MORE VACCINE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF NPH TO ADD IN.
UM, WE DO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO AHEAD AND REGISTER AND SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND IT CONTINUED TO WATCH YOUR ACCOUNT TO SEE IF AND WHEN YOU'VE BECOME, UH, PRIORITIZED TO, UM, AND WHEN YOU'VE MOVED IN THE WAITING LIST SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO, UM, SNAG THAT APPOINTMENT AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S HARD TO REALLY, UM, PUT A REAL TIMELINE ON THAT.
SO IT MAY BE, UM, SOONER THAN WE THINK.
UM, AND SO WE ENCOURAGED US FOLKS TO BE VIGILANT AND WATCH FOR THAT, BUT ALSO LOOK AT ALL OF THE PROVIDERS AS DR.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, UH, CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THOSE PROTECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BY MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING UNTIL YOU CAN GET THAT FULL PROTECTION WITH THE VACCINE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KVU DOES AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ANTICIPATE LARGER WEEKLY ALLOCATIONS OF VACCINES FROM THE STATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE? WE HIRE, UM, CURRENTLY RECEIVING 12,000 DOSES PER WEEK FOR FIRST DOSES.
AND THEN WE RECEIVE, UM, 12002ND DOSES TO MIRROR OUR FIRST DOSE ALLOCATIONS WHEN THOSE, UM, FOUR WEEKS LATER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE DUE THEIR SECOND DOSE RECEIVE THOSE, UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE NOT SURE.
UM, WE ARE READY TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL VACCINE WHEN THE STATE IS ABLE TO, UM, UM, GET ADDITIONAL VACCINE AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE ANTICIPATE THAT, UM, AS VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE AND, AND THEY CAN PUSH VACCINE TO THE HUB LOCATION WITHIN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, THAT WILL BE READY TO RECEIVE THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING TO NOTE IS THAT WE'RE SEEING ADDITIONAL PROVIDERS ON ADDING
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INTO THE, UM, ALLOCATIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WHICH IS FANTASTIC BECAUSE THAT MEANS THERE ARE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE MORE MEANINGFUL TO, UM, A BROADER RANGE OF POPULATIONS THAT, UM, JUST AREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS THE HUB AT THIS TIME.SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT THE STATE IS UTILIZING TO PROVIDE VACCINE ACROSS THE STATE.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE MORE VACCINE, ENCOURAGE MORE PROVIDERS TO ACCEPT, TO BE, UM, PART OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.
UM, AND, AND JUST KIND OF BE LOOKING AT THAT AS A PATIENT, LOOKING TO WHERE, WHAT VACCINE PROVIDERS ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE AND WHERE, WHERE VACCINE IS ACCESSIBLE.
NO, THERE'S ADD ON TO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON WHEN WE HAVE NEW VACCINES AND THIS IS TRUE FOR OTHER VACCINES IN THE PAST, AND THERE'S A LIMITED SUPPLY, UH, IT MAKES SENSE TO, UH, TO VACCINATE PEOPLE THROUGH, THROUGH HUBS, UH, SO THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT THE MOST, AND THEN WORK THE WAY DOWN THE LIST.
ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS TO GET THE VACCINE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME OR WORK, WHERE IT'S CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO GET IT WHERE THEY WOULD NORMALLY GET A FLU SHOT.
UH, IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, IT HELPS US GET THROUGH, UH, THE MASS NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT STILL NEED TO BE VACCINATED IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT GRAPHICALLY, WHAT THE VACCINATION ROLL OUT IS LIKELY TO LOOK LIKE.
WE SEE A BIG SPIKE AT THE MINUTE AT THE BEGINNING, RIGHT? LOTS OF PEOPLE WANT THE VACCINE AND WE VACCINATE LOTS OF PEOPLE VERY QUICKLY, BUT THEN IT STARTS TO DECLINE.
AND THEN WE HAVE A LONG TAIL GETTING TO THAT, THAT HERD IMMUNITY.
IF WE INTRODUCE VACCINE, THERE ARE MORE VACCINES AVAILABLE, PHARMACIES, UH, YOU KNOW, AT GROCERY STORES, STANDALONE PHARMACIES, PHARMACY CHAINS, AS WELL AS DOCTOR'S OFFICES.
IT ALLOWS US TO, TO CUT THAT TAIL OFF, UH, TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY QUICKER BECAUSE IT IS MORE AVAILABLE, IT'S MORE CONVENIENT.
AND, UH, THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO GET IT AS A PART OF THEIR NORMAL ROUTINE RATHER THAN SCHEDULING AT LARGE SITES.
SO WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INCREASE ALLOCATIONS, THAT THE STATE WILL INCREASE ALLOCATIONS TO PROVIDERS OUTSIDE OF APH TO HELP WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING, UH, WE'RE ON A GOOD TIMELINE THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID TO HAVE VACCINE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY WHO WANTS IT, CERTAINLY BY THE END OF MAY, UM, CHILDREN WILL BE ANOTHER, ANOTHER, UH, BENCHMARK PROBABLY SOMETIME OVER THE SUMMER FOR THAT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, IF VACCINE IS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOU CAN GET OFFERED AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE GET IT.
THAT'S THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR OURSELVES, FOR OUR FAMILY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO, TO MOVE PAST COVID-19.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM K O P RADIO MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
AS WE APPROACH HAVING ENOUGH VACCINES TO INOCULATE ALL WHO WANT THEM IS APH MANDATED OR PREPARED TO FACE PANDEMIC RELATED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
UM, NPH HAS A LONG STANDING HISTORY OR TRACK RECORD OF PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH OUR PARTNERS, THE EFFECTS OF COVID, UH, THE ISOLATION, YOU KNOW, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SENIORS.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AS OF LATE OF THE EFFECT OF, UM, BEING ISOLATED OR BEING REQUIRED TO HOMESCHOOL OUR KIDS.
AND SO WE DO HAVE, UM, SEVERAL CONTRACTS IN PLACE WITH PROVIDERS.
UM, WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE REIMAGINE MANAGING THOSE SERVICES IN THE LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW WE, UM, ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO EMERGING NEEDS TO, UM, HAVE A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THEM.
UM, SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, WE ARE PREPARED, OUR PARTNERS ARE PREPARED AND WE HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
I'LL ALSO JUST MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN TEXAS, UH, IT LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
UM, I THINK WE DO NEED TO, UH, EXAMINE FURTHER INVESTMENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AVAILABILITY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UM, IT IS NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE RECOMMENDED LEVELS
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OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND OUR, AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.AND FOR THE MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS SCHOOL YEAR, UM, IT IS, IT IS A CHALLENGE AND A CHALLENGE TO THE SYSTEM BASED ON LIMITED AVAILABILITY.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.
AND, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, UH, THROUGH COVID-19 AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE, UH, THAT THEY REACH OUT, THEY REACH OUT TO A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, UH, TO A TEACHER, TO A FRIEND OR TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, UH, AND, UH, AND START THE HEALING PROCESS.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE DAILY TEXAN, HOW ARE VACCINATIONS GOING FOR THE 16 TO 30 POPULATION THUS FAR? AND ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER SPIKE IN CASES DUE TO PEOPLE RELAXING THEIR SAFETY PROTOCOLS AFTER MASS VACCINATIONS, UM, CENTER LINK CONCERNED ABOUT A SPIKE? UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN FLAT HERE LOCALLY IN TERMS OF CASES, IN TERMS OF ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL, UH, FLAT IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN INCREASING, BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS DECREASING.
UM, AND THAT, THAT LEAVES US CONCERNED.
UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND, UM, WHEN IT TURNS TO INCREASING IT, THE SITUATION CAN CHANGE VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
UH, WE'RE NOT OTHER ONES BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION YET.
AND THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THOSE PROTECTIONS TO AVOID THAT SURGE.
AND IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US CONTINUING THOSE PROTECTIONS.
NOW WE'RE STILL WITHIN THE WINDOW AND TO SEE INCREASES BASED ON SPRING BREAK.
UM, WE ARE INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL CLUSTERS ASSOCIATED WITH SPRING BREAK AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WE HAVE THE SAME POTENTIAL, UH, AROUND EASTER.
WE'VE SEEN INCREASES FOLLOWING MANY OTHER HOLIDAYS, UH, THIS OVER THE PAST YEAR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO CONTINUE THOSE PROTECTIONS, PARTICULARLY ON THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, IT WILL HELP US TO DECREASE THE RISK OF ANOTHER SURGE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM UNIVISION IS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF A MASS VACCINATION CLINIC WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
UH, NOW, UH, SO THE, THE CHALLENGE WITH A MASS VACCINATION CLINIC WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS IS PEOPLE END UP IN LINE, EITHER STANDING OR IN THEIR CAR FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS, UM, WHAT WE PREFER TO DO.
AND, UH, I THINK WHAT, WHAT MANY JURISDICTIONS PRONE TO DO IS AS YOU PRESCHEDULE THOSE, THE LARGE CLINICS, SO THAT WE HAVE, UH, PEOPLE WHO, UH, TELL YOU MY WIFE WENT THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO GET HER VACCINE.
SHE WAS IN AND OUT IN 20 MINUTES, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT SCHEDULING PROCESS, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S SHOWING UP AT ONCE, UM, THAT I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DECREASES THE INCONVENIENCE OF GETTING A VACCINE AND ENSURES THAT LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE AREN'T GATHERED TOGETHER.
UM, AND IT KEEPS THINGS EFFICIENT FOR, FOR TRAFFIC FLOW.
I DO THINK AT SOME STAGE WE WILL HAVE SMALLER CLINICS THAT, UH, WILL NOT REQUIRE A PRE-REGISTRATION, UH, WALK-UP TYPE OF CLINICS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE STILL HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR OUR LARGE VACCINATION SIZE, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT PROCESS.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, ALSO, AND WE'VE DONE SOME, UH, HAVE SOME SMALLER SITES, UH, THAT ARE CLOSER TO HOME FOR PEOPLE.
UM, BUT WE CAN EXPECT MORE OF THAT INTO APRIL AND MAY
AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON, ON WHAT YOU SENT IN DEFINITELY WILL BE A MATTER OF WAITING UNTIL WE HAVE MORE VACCINES AVAILABLE IN COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT, UH, PART OF OUR EQUITY STRATEGY, UM, TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE POPULATIONS THAT ARE HAVING, UH, DISPARATE OUTCOMES TO COVID AND, UM, HAVE MORE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING THE MASS VACCINATION PONDS.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE SMALLER CLINICS OR THOSE SMALLER PLACE-BASED PONDS AND ALLOW FOLKS TO WALK UP AND AT THE SAME TIME REGISTER AND INTO OUR SYSTEM AND GET A VACCINE.
SO THAT, THOSE THAT IS IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN DOES APH THINK AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY WILL REACH HERD IMMUNITY? ARE WE ON TRACK TO HIT IT BY THE SUMMER? I'M HAPPY
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TO TAKE THAT ONE.UH, AGAIN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO PREDICT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO 50%, 60% RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
UH, THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET FROM 60 TO 85% OR 70%? UM, UH, YOU KNOW, TH THE HERD IMMUNITY IS, IS NOT A, A FIXED LOCATION.
UH, IT IS MOBILE BASED UPON THE TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE.
IF WE SEE ANOTHER BIG SURGE IN CASES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VACCINATE EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO TRY TO BRING DOWN THAT, THAT TRANSMISSION LEVEL.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S, IT REALLY TAKES ALL OF US, UM, BEING ENGAGED IN THAT VACCINATION EFFORT, UH, REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE ACTIVELY, UH, TO OFFER VACCINE RATHER THAN JUST WAITING ON PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.
AND, UH, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, THAT REACHING OUT TO THEIR CLIENTS, TO THEIR FRIENDS, TO THEIR MEMBERS, UH, TALKING ABOUT VACCINE, HELPING TO, UM, UH, PROVIDE FACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VACCINE RATHER THAN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, MEDIA CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT, THAT WE SEE FROM TIME TO TIME.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MORE WE CAN DO THAT, THE EASIER IT WILL BE FOR US TO AVOID THAT LONG TAIL OF VACCINATION TO GET TO THAT, THAT HERD IMMUNITY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I, I WILL ALSO MENTION THAT, THAT WE CAN ONLY REALLY REACH HERD IMMUNITY WHEN WE HAVE VACCINES AVAILABLE FOR, FOR CHILDREN AS WELL.
UH, SO I THINK FOR ADULTS, UH, WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF, OF REACHING HERD IMMUNITY IN THOSE SUBGROUPS, UH, EARLY IN THE SUMMER, BUT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE LATE IN THE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL BEFORE WE CAN REACH TRUE TO HERD IMMUNITY.
WE WENT TO VACCINATION OF CHILDREN.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM FOX SEVEN, HOW MUCH LONGER WILL AUSTIN NEED TO WEAR MASKS? YES.
WELL, THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.
UM, I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT THAT, UH, MASKS ARE GOING TO BE AROUND, UH, THROUGH THE FALL OF NEXT YEAR.
NOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE DETERMINED TRANSMISSION RATES BASED UPON, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CASE NUMBERS, OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS, UH, MASKING MAY NOT LOOK THE SAME BETWEEN NOW AND THE FALL.
UH, IT MAY BE LESS RESTRICTED.
UH, IT MAY BE FOR CERTAIN SITUATIONS, CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTS, LONGER DURATIONS OF TIME OR PLACES WHERE THERE'S PARTICULAR VULNERABILITY LIKE SCHOOLS, UH, THAT DON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T READ OURSELVES AS A MASK YET.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE ALSO SEEN HOW EFFECTIVE MASKS ARE AT DECREASING THE TRANSMISSION OF INFLUENZA.
UH, SO IT MAY BE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR NORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLU SEASON, THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT IT FLOWS SEASON IS BAD, OR THEY'RE GOING TO BE AROUND, UH, YOU'RE GONNA BE AROUND LOVED ONES WHO ARE MORE VULNERABLE FOR COMPLICATIONS FROM FLU THAT YOU WEAR A MAN.
UH, SO DON'T GET RID OF YOUR MASKS YET.
UM, BUT WE, WE DO EXPECT THE SITUATION TO CHANGE OVER THE SUMMER, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY UPDATE GUIDANCE BASED UPON THE SITUATION.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, STATE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IS EXPANDING, BUT THE ALLOCATION TO TRAVIS COUNTY PROVIDERS HAS GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS.
IS TRAVIS COUNTY AS A WHOLE STILL RECEIVING ITS FAIR SHARE OF DOSES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S TRUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN GETTING THEIR 12,000 A WEEK FOR FIRST SHOTS, 12,000 WAIT FOR THE SECOND SHOTS.
UH, AND CERTAINLY PROVIDERS ARE ALSO RECEIVING SHOTS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK IS THAT, UH, SOME PROVIDERS HAD EXTRA SHOTS BECAUSE OF THE WINTER STORM.
SO THOSE PROVIDERS ARE CATCHING UP A BIT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH RECEIVED 12002ND SHOTS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED THE 12001ST SHOTS THE WEEK OF THE WINTER STORM.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T GIVE 12,000 SHOTS, SO WE GOT THE WINTER STORM.
SO WE HAD EXCESS SUPPLY FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, UH, WHILE WE CAUGHT UP OTHER PROVIDERS ARE FACING THAT SITUATION AS WELL.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THOSE VACCINES WERE THEN GIVEN TO DIFFERENT PROVIDERS, UH, WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE INDICATION THAT WE'RE SEEING GOING FORWARD
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IS THAT VACCINATIONS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE, UH, AND YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY INTO APRIL AND MAY INCREASE DRAMATICALLY.THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ALLOCATION IS GOING TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, BUT THE OVERALL ALLOCATION TO TRAVIS COUNTY, EITHER THROUGH DSHS THROUGH THE STATE OR DIRECTLY THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, UH, WITH THE PHARMACIES, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KUT WILL APH PLAN, VACCINE DISTRIBUTION EVENTS TARGETING 12 TO 15 YEAR OLDS.
IF PFIZER'S COVID-19 VACCINE IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE BY THE FDA, WILL YOU CONSIDER DOING THAT THROUGH SCHOOLS? SO I FIRST JUST WANT TO MENTION, AT THIS POINT, WE'VE NOT BEEN A PFIZER PROVIDER, UM, WHICH I THINK, UM, OBVIOUSLY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH COULD ABSORB ANY VACCINE THAT WERE ALLOCATED.
UM, BUT, UH, TODAY WE ARE ONLY THE MATERNAL PROVIDER, WHICH IS ONLY AUTHORIZED FOR THE 18 AND OLDER POPULATION.
UM, HOWEVER, AS THE, UM, VACCINE, UH, TRIALS GO ON AND PFIZER, UH, BECOMES THE VACCINE OR ONE OF THE VACCINES AVAILABLE FOR VACCINATING SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, I'M ALSO IN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT CERTAINLY LEVERAGE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS, UM, AS WELL AS OTHER VACCINE FOR CHILDREN PROVIDERS, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THERE IS, UM, CAPACITY TO RAPIDLY DEPLOY THAT VACCINE IN WHATEVER CAPACITY IS APPROPRIATE FOR REACHING THAT POPULATION.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CVS AUSTIN, THE CDC SAID YESTERDAY THAT NEW RESEARCH CONFIRMS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED ARE NOT SPREADING THE VIRUS.
HOW SHOULD THIS AFFECT BEHAVIOR IN THOSE VACCINATED? WELL, I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.
UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO CONTINUE THOSE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS, EVEN IF THEY'VE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED, I'VE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.
I STILL WEAR A MASK EVERYWHERE THAT I GO.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, OUR CLINICAL STAFF, UH, EVERYBODY'S STILL WEARING A MASK.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE VACCINE IS VERY EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION TO THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE WE VACCINATED AS WELL AS PREVENTING TRANSMISSION TO OTHER PEOPLE.
UH, BUT WE'RE NOT AT A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE VACCINATED TO HAVE TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN, IN, IN THOSE PROTECTIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 14% OF OUR ADULT POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED AT THIS STAGE, UH, ABOUT 30 LITTLE OVER 30% RIGHT NOW, UH, IN THAT 16 PLUS AGE GROUP, WHO'VE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE VACCINE.
SO MY ADVICE AT THIS STAGE IS PLEASE BE PATIENT, PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE, UH, THAT, THAT WE PROVIDE ABOUT MASKING A DISTANCING IT'S WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
NOW, BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME REVISED GUIDANCE GOING OUT AS FAR AS, AS HOW, UH, HOW VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS CAN, CAN OPERATE POTENTIALLY DIFFERENTLY FROM, FROM OTHERS, UM, FROM THE PUBLIC POLICY STANDPOINT.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IF, IF THERE'S SEPARATE GUIDANCE FOR VACCINATED VERSUS UNVACCINATED, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY, WE HAVE SEEN THE, THE CONCEPT OF THE VACCINE PASSPORT, UH, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY DANGEROUS, UH, TECHNIQUE TO, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE, UH, ADDITIONAL FREEDOMS. THE FREEDOMS WE'LL TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT HAVING TO WEAR A MASK, NOT HAVING TO DISTANCE.
I THINK WE CAN ALL BE PATIENT ENOUGH TO WAIT A MONTH OR TWO, UH, BEFORE WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE TOWARDS THAT DIRECTION OF, OF, UH, ISSUING SEPARATE GUIDANCE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ONE OF US PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE HEALTH OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THAT HAVING THE PATIENTS, UH, TO CONTINUE MASKING AND DISTANCING AND WASHING YOUR HANDS FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER, UH, WE'LL WILL CERTAINLY HELP TO DRIVE DOWN THE DISEASE AND GET MORE PEOPLE BACK, SAY TO PUT US IN A, IN A BETTER SITUATION FOR SUMMER, IF YOU'RE TALKING YOU'RE ON MUTE, I THINK SHE MAY BE DR.
I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM K X A AGAIN, HOW STRONG IS THE DEMAND FOR
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VACCINES IN THE AUSTIN AREA? ARE THE NUMBERS STAYING ABOUT THE SAME FEWER, OR ARE MORE PEOPLE TRYING TO SIGN UP? SO WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING A DAILY INCREASE IN NEW REGISTRANTS ON OUR, UM, PORTAL, UH, TO REGISTER FOR A VACCINE APPOINTMENT ON.AND THAT IS ENCOURAGING, UH, PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING AS WE KNOW, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA CONTINUES TO EXPAND.
UM, AND WE DO WANT FOLKS TO, UM, CONTINUE TO REGISTER AS WAS SAID EARLIER, AS THE TIMELINE GOES FORWARD AND MORE VACCINES INTO OUR LOCAL MARKET.
UM, THERE WILL BE MORE VACCINE AVAILABLE BOTH WITHIN ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, VACCINE CLINICS, BUT ALSO ACROSS OTHER VACCINE CLINICS.
SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO SEEK THOSE VACCINE OUT THAT VACCINE OUT.
BUT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, YES, WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN DEMAND AND INCREASE IN NEW REGISTRANTS IN OUR SYSTEM.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM K O P RADIO.
UH, HE SAID HE RECENTLY RECEIVED A VACCINATION FROM DEL DIAMOND AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT IMMEDIATELY FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, UM, IS APH PREPARED TO DO THE SAME? YEAH, I'M REALLY GLAD YOU'RE ASKING THAT.
UM, FOR SECOND DOSES, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS TRACK WHEN THEY'RE DUE THAT SECOND DOSE AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHICH VACCINE THEY'VE RECEIVED, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS PROVIDING THEM A DHURNA VACCINE.
AND SO YOUR VACCINE IS DUE 28 DAYS AFTER YOU'VE RECEIVED THAT NOTE, THAT 28 DAYS YOU START COUNTING THE DAY AFTER YOU'VE RECEIVED YOUR VACCINE.
WE ARE ADVISING FOLKS, UH, WHEN THEY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE, THAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEIR REMINDER THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RETURN ON THAT 28TH DAY, UH, TO THAT LOCATION.
AND THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING AN APPOINTMENT.
AND SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK THEIR ACCOUNTS.
UM, IN SOME CASES, UM, THEIR EMAIL, UH, MAY BE EMAIL BOX MAY BE FULL, UM, OR THEY DON'T RECEIVE THE TEXT MESSAGE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR APPOINTMENTS.
SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK THEIR ACCOUNTS, TO SEE IF THEIR APPOINTMENT IS, IS PHYSICALLY THERE.
UM, AND IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO VERIFY THAT THEIR APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE, WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CALL THREE, ONE, ONE, IF THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR 28 DAY VACCINE APPOINTMENT, AND THEY'RE AT THAT 28TH DAY, SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM IN AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM UNIVISION, WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MAKE THE VACCINE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY? SO AGAIN, WE PARTNER QUITE A BIT WITH, UM, UH, KEY LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT OUR VACCINE, UM, CLINICS, UM, AND HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE CLINICS, UM, IS KNOWN AND AVAILABLE.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, WORK, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO BARRIERS TO ACCESSING VACCINE, AS ADRIAN MENTIONED, UH, BEFORE WE REALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, FOLKS WERE AWARE THAT, UM, THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY THEY, UM, UH, FEEL LIMITED IN COMING TO THE VACCINE SIDE.
UM, WE DON'T REQUIRE A THAT THEY PRODUCE AN ID.
UM, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS I THINK ARE SOMEWHAT, UH, COULD BE SOMEWHAT LIMITING FOR FOLKS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME PIECES THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH.
AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE'RE OUTREACHING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THERE ARE NO BARRIERS TO RECEIVING VACCINE ENSURING THAT, UM, INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN APPROPRIATE LANGUAGES THAT, UM, SPANISH AND ANY OTHER, UM, UH, LANGUAGE THAT, UM, IS DESIRED, THAT THERE'S, UM, ASSISTANCE FOR FOLKS BOTH, UM, IN OUR OUTREACH MATERIALS, BUT ALSO, UM, ONSITE AT OUR VACCINE LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO HAVE STAFF THAT ARE ALL, UM, BILINGUAL AND, UM, AND SO THAT THE PATIENTS CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE, UM, IN THAT SPACE AND HAVE A, UM, UH, A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, THEIR NEEDS AND ENSURE THAT THE THEY'RE CHOOSING TO TAKE THE VACCINE, THAT THEY HAVE ALL THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, UM, AND ARE, ARE ABLE TO, TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED TO, UM, CARRY BACK WITH THEM AND THEN ALSO CARRY BACK AND ENCOURAGE THEIR, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO GET VACCINATED.
AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID, UM, ALL OF THAT, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BEING RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY OF US HAVE NAVIGATED THROUGH A PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT TAKING FEEDBACK FROM THE LATIN X COMMUNITY ABOUT, UM, UNINTENDED BARRIERS TO OUR PROCESSES.
[00:40:01]
WORKED WITH THEM TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.UM, AND IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS THAT CASSIE TALKED ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE TRANSLATION SERVICES AVAILABLE, UM, WORKING TO HAVE SMALL PODS IN COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT ARE WHERE THE RESIDENTS ARE PRIMARILY LETTING NECKS ARE HISPANIC, UM, PROACTIVELY WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CALL FOLKS WHO NEED HELP NAVIGATING OUR SYSTEMS. UM, SO REALLY MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE INTENTIONAL IN OUR EFFORTS WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF BEING A HUB, OF COURSE, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THERE IS MORE VACCINE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN AS A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE CAN SHIFT INTO OUR ROLE OF BEING THAT SAFETY NET PROVIDER AND REALLY DIGGING DOWN INTO THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED, UM, STRATEGIES THAT WILL ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING A MORE INTENSE EFFORT ON MAKING SURE THE SERVICES ARE AMENABLE AND APPROPRIATE FOR OUR LATIN X POPULATION, BUT ALSO FOR OUR ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AND OUR BLACK AMERICAN POPULATION AS WELL.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, HOW HAS APH MANAGING THE NEWLY ELIGIBLE FOLKS WHO NEED FIRST DOSES AND ARE FINDING IT HARD TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT? I E WHEN CAN WE EXPECT ANOTHER MASS VACCINATION CLINIC AT CODA OR ELSEWHERE? UH, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO START THAT ONE AGAIN, WE HAVE A MASS VACCINATION CLINIC MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK THROUGH, UH, OUR APH SITES.
UH, WE'RE CERTAINLY PLEASED TO HAVE ANOTHER SITE AT, AT CODA.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT YOUNGER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE 18 TO 34, OR, YOU KNOW, TO 50, UH, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE, UH, PATIENTS WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE VACCINE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE VACCINE, THEN WE HAVE VACCINE TO GIVE TO.
UM, SO WE'RE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL PRIORITIZING THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIVE ONE, A ONE B ONE C GROUP, OUR EDUCATION STAFF, OUR CHILDCARE STAFF.
UH, ONCE WE HAVE AN INDICATION THAT, THAT THE, THE LINE IS SHORTENED ENOUGH FOR US TO OPEN IT TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE WILL DO THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEN FOLKS CAN LOOK AT OTHER SITES THAT OTHER PROVIDERS, INCLUDING CVS, WALGREENS, AGB, UH, SAM'S CLUB TARGETS, UH, OR THEIR LOCAL, UH, HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO DETERMINE IF, IF THEY HAVE AVAILABILITY, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, AND TINA HAVE A GREAT INTERACTIVE SITE, SO THAT FOLKS CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THERE IS VACCINE AND WHERE THERE IS NOT VACCINE.
UH, SO THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD TOOL FOR PEOPLE TO UTILIZE.
THERE ARE LINKS, UH, FOR EACH OF THOSE PROVIDERS SITES, UH, THROUGH DSHS.
UH, SO IT PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS ON ENSENADA.
SO AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS FOR US TO GET THROUGH, UH, THESE ALL ADULTS, UM, CERTAINLY, UH, INTO APRIL AND MAY, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER IT TO EVERYBODY.
BUT I THINK LET'S BEGIN TODAY.
WE'LL BE IN A SITUATION THAT THERE'LL BE MUCH MORE AVAILABILITY.
IT'LL BE MUCH EASIER FOR FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED AT THE SAME DAY.
THEY DECIDE TO GET THAT THEY WANT A VACCINE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM FOX SEVEN, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF ROLLING BACK TO STAGE TWO SOON? WELL, WE HAVE PROJECTIONS AND THE PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, AS EARLY AS THE MIDDLE OF APRIL, WE MAY START THE ENTRY INTO STAGE TWO.
WHEN I SAY START THE ENTRY, THE GENTLEMAN WHO WOULD WANT TO SAY US INSIDE THE STAGE FOR A WEEK OR SO BEFORE WE TRANSITIONED THE STAGE OF BRISK TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T BOUNCE OUT WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF, OF THAT, UH, THAT TRANSITION POINT.
UH, SO IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE BY THE THIRD WEEK APRIL, THAT THAT WE COULD BE IN STAGE TWO.
UH, BUT THE PROJECTIONS ARE BASED UPON, UH, IF, IF RISK-TAKING STAYS THE SAME, IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO WEAR THEIR MASKS AS IS CAN CONTINUE TO BE MANDATED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, IF THEY CONTINUE TO DISTANCE, IF THEY CONTINUE TO WASH THEIR HANDS, AVOID GATHERINGS, IF WE CONTINUE THAT THEN IS LOOKING A LOT BETTER.
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TRIP FROM STAGE TWO TO STAGE ONE.UM, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE FOR YOU.
IF WE JUST STAY THE COURSE, IF WE CONTINUE TO ISOLATE AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT FEELING WELL AND GET TESTED AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS THAT IS FEASIBLE BY SUMMER, WE CAN BE IN STAGE ONE.
UM, BUT IT DOES TAKE ALL OF US.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, W WE'VE SEEN IT ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, 31 STATES, THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
UH, SO VERY QUICKLY IT CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.
WE CAN GO FROM FLAT OR DECLINING TO INCREASING, UH, AND IT'S, AGAIN, WE'RE AT A VULNERABLE SPOT AND WE NEED TO KEEP THOSE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.
THE LAST QUESTION IS FROM COMMUNITY IMPACT, YOU MENTIONED OUR NUMBERS ARE FLAT.
ARE YOU STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE BEING LIFTED, OR HAVE WE MITIGATED THAT RISK DUE TO EXPANDED VACCINE SUPPLY AND EXTENDED LOCAL ORDERS? I THINK WE'RE STILL AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR, UH, FOR SEEING AN INCREASE IN CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, THE PUBLISHED DATA ON WHEN THE IMPACT HAPPENS FROM, UH, THINGS LIKE REMOVAL OF MASK MANDATES, AND THOSE EFFECTS CAN BE WEEKS LATER TO THREE TO SIX WEEKS LATER, UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE DISEASE TRANSMITS, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY YOU HAVE, UH, THE INITIAL TRANSMISSION AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE TRANSMIT IT TO OTHERS, AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE TRANSMIT IT TO OTHERS.
SO IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME, MAY TAKE FOUR, SIX, EIGHT WEEKS TO SEE THE TRUE IMPACT OF, UH, EVENTS LIKE THE ENDING OF THE MASS MANDATE OR, UH, THE A HUNDRED PERCENT OPENING OF, OF BUSINESSES OR EVENTS LIKE SPRING BREAK THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH.
SO I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL, OR TO BE TOO CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN A SURGE FROM THOSE EVENTS, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF WE MAINTAIN THOSE PROTECTIONS, THEN IT WILL, UH, HOPEFULLY PUSH US ON THE DECLINE, UH, YOU KNOW, INTO APRIL ONE AND CERTAINLY INTO MAY.
SCOTT, AT THIS POINT, WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR CLOSING REMARKS, ADRIAN.
IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO BE A PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, LIVE A LOT THOUGHTS AS I LISTENED TO THE QUESTIONS AND MY COLLEAGUES ANSWERING, UM, YOU KNOW, WE IT'S IT'S, I USED TO DO YOUTH PREVENTION AND ONE OF THE CORE TENANTS OF THOSE PROGRAMS WAS DELAYED GRATIFICATION.
WE WOULD TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU JUST PLAN YOUR STEPS, WAIT TO DO THESE THINGS UNTIL THESE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE, YOU'LL ACHIEVE A GREATER OUTCOME.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S WHAT DR.
AND WAIT UNTIL THAT TIME WHERE I CAN REJOIN MY GAMES AND WORSHIP IN A WAY THAT WE'RE USED TO.
UM, AND JUST IT'S THIS, THIS VIRUS IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL.
IT'S ABOUT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
AND SO I'LL GO BACK TO SOME OF THE POINTS I SAID AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR ALLERGIES MIGHT BE KICKING, YOU KNOW, JUST KICK THEM OUT STRONGER THAN YOU REMEMBER IN PAST YEARS, GO GET A TEST IT'S FREE.
IT'S EVERYWHERE, 15 MINUTES OF YOUR DAY FOR SOME PEACE OF MIND.
AND WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THOSE TEST RESULTS, OR YOU'RE FEELING LIKE NOT YOURSELF, JUST NOT AS OF LATE, YOU KNOW, TAKE SOME TIME TO MEDITATE, READ A BOOK.
THAT'S, YOU'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO READ JUST THIS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU WANT TO DO, BUT IF YOU JUST HOLD OFF THAT 48 HOURS, MOST TEST RESULTS ARE BACK IN 48 HOURS.
YOU CAN GET THOSE TEST RESULTS AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT ASSURANCE OR PEACE OF MIND THAT YOU ARE.
AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT, THAT THING, THAT DESTINY HAS PEOPLE WE LIKE TO HAVE CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES.
AND WE DEFINITELY CAN BY MASKING BY WASHING YOUR HANDS AND MY SOCIAL DISTANCING.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW, BUT I'LL SAY DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE JUST PROTECT OURSELVES, NOW WE CAN PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS A BIG HOLIDAY AND IT'S A BIG FAMILY HOLIDAY THAT IS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILIES, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO COVID-19,
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THEY'RE AT HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE, HIGH RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND HIGH RISK FOR DEATH.UM, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT FOR YOURSELF, DO IT FOR THEM NOT, PLEASE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHURCH IN PERSON THIS WEEKEND, OR THIS FOLLOWING WEEK, WEAR A MASK, DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM OTHERS, WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.
IT'S THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR OUR FAMILIES.
AND IT'S THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, MY HOPE IS THAT THAT EVERYBODY STAYS SAFE OUT THERE.
UH, BUT AS ADRIAN JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS FROM COVID-19 THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW ARE ON US.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PREVENT, WE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THIS DISEASE, THAT WE HAVE A VACCINE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DELAYED GRATIFICATION.
AND IF WE DO THAT TOGETHER, THE SUMMER'S GOING TO LOOK A WHOLE LOT BRIGHTER WITHOUT A PASS IT OVER TO CASSIE DANIEL.
ASCOT, AND JUST TO CLOSE OUT, UM, YES, IT'S EXCITING THAT WE HAVE VACCINE AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT WE'RE SEEING SO MANY MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AND, AND THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION CONTINUED TO SPREAD AND THE INTEREST IN VACCINE, UH, TO, CAN YOU TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH THAT BEING SAID, DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW, MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH, UM, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
I CONTINUE TO HEAR, UM, EVEN DAILY ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN SO VIGILANT THIS ENTIRE YEAR AND CONTRACTED THIS DISEASE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY ARE HAVING A ROUGH TIME WITH IT, UM, HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND THERE ARE STILL THOSE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, ALTHOUGH WE'RE SEEING AS A POPULATION, UH, THOSE, THOSE RATES GO DOWN, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MY GRANDMOTHER.
NOT THAT THAT SUFFERS AND DIES.
I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MY FRIEND OR MY FAMILY MEMBER.
I NEED EVERYONE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES SO THAT NONE OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER PERSON HAVING THIS DISEASE OR ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER BEING LOST.
WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES AND PROTECT EACH OTHER.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME STILL, BUT WE HAVE THE TOOLS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR TODAY.
THANKS TO APH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
MARK S. SCOTT AND CASSANDRA DALIAN, APH CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION AND TO OUR POOL REPORTER ST.
THANKS FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A SAFE DAY.