Texas State Senator of District 19, Roland Gutierrez, visited Fort Stockton on Friday, Jan. 15 for an informative question and answer session at the Pecos County Courthouse.

Those in attendance included city officials, county officials, and hospital administration.

Gutierrez focused on the current situation at the state level regarding the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the potential forecast for Pecos County.

The senator stated that there is a real possibility of the county becoming a hub for vaccine administration due to the superior efficiency that Pecos County Memorial Hospital is providing when it comes to giving out the vaccine.

“You guys are doing great. You’re almost 200 ahead of your neighboring counties to the north and south: Gutierrez said. “The faster we can get through your county, the faster we can get you to helping the cojoining counties.”

The county has currently received and administered 500 Moderna COVID-19 vaccines dating from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4. Of those 500 vaccines, 275 were given to non-frontline healthcare workers.

With the holidays intertwined with the first two shipments of 300 and 200, PCMH CEO Betsy Briscoe noted that the most the vaccines they have given in one day to this point is 140.

But, that number can more than double - up to 300 and even more if county was given the appropriate supply.

That number helped set the wheels in motion for Gutierrez to do what he can to make Pecos County a hub for the vaccine.

“This is going to be my effort to make Pecos County a hub; Gutierrez said. “. Next week I’m going to try to make you guys a hub and if I’m going to make you guys a hub, as soon as the state gets more money and you guys promise to take your amount, we’ll probably be able to help you get more vaccines!’

PCMH received the second set of 500 vaccines for those who have already took it on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Those vaccines will begin to be administered this week and go all the way through next.

As for the next shipment of vaccines, the timeframe is still unknown, but the hospital will know more by the end of the week according to Briscoe.

There are currently 1,200 Pecos County residents on the waiting list to get the vaccine that meet the Phase 1B criteria - being 65-yearold or older and have a preexisting condition.

While the next shipment is still unknown, Briscoe and the PCMH administration have already taken steps to become a hub as of Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Briscoe stated that the Pecos County Civic Center is a potential location to do vaccinations when they receive a big supply. The hospital has also put in a request to become a hub with DSHS.

The action translates to more vaccines being received in the county and residents receiving theirs at a faster rate compared to those areas that are not a hub.

“I did submit to DSHS a request to do so in this area. I talked to the senator afterwards and we learned that’s what we want to do. We’re putting a plan together right now that would involve more of the community to help doing something like that. We got 1,200 names on the list and when we get 1,200 vaccines, we’ll be able to get it done in a few days; Briscoe said.