By the end of the day on Monday, Jan. 4, Pecos County Memorial Hospital had administered its final supply of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine it received from the state during the month of December.

PCMH gave out 500 vaccines in a two-week span to county residents, dating from Dec. 21 when the vaccines began administration in the county to Jan. 4.

Of those 500 vaccines, 275 were given to nonfrontline healthcare workers.

PCMH CEO Betsy Briscoe noted that a majority of people who received the vaccine so far in the county have had no side effects besides a sore arm after the shot, although a few had headaches for a few days.

“There’s been groups of people who have gotten a headache. That usually from what we’re seeing or hearing is short-lived, 24 hours type of situation. It’s either that day or the next day after they receive the vaccine,” she said.

PCMH received an initial supply of 300 vaccines that started to be given to healthcare workers and first responders in the county on Dec. 21. The hospital received an additional supply of 200 more vaccines on Dec. 24.

Phase 1B of the Moderna COVID-19 administration in Pecos County began on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The phase included individuals that are 65-years-old and older that have at least one chronic condition that puts them at a higher risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.

Briscoe stated on Tuesday, Jan. 5 that the hospital has seen a good response to the vaccines thus far. Currently, there are nearly 200 people that meet the Phase 1B criteria on a waiting list to receive the vaccine once supplies become available.

While the timeframe to get the vaccine is still unknown for those on the waiting list, PCMH is receiving a supply of 500 vaccines next week for the second dose of those who have already received the vaccine in the county.

Briscoe added that the Department of Health and Human Services is sending out a survey to gauge the number of vaccines given in the next phase, which is yet to be determined.

“What we’re hearing right now that state sent out a survey to try to get an idea of how many vaccines to allocate to all the different counties. So, it would be for the fifth week allocations and that’s what they’re looking towards to determining so we can start vaccinating and schedule people to get the vaccines too,” she said.

The hospital will notify local media and put on their Facebook page when they can schedule more county residents to get the vaccine.