COVID-19 vaccine headed to Hidalgo County

State health officials have alerted local authorities that the COVID-19 vaccines are now headed to Hidalgo County and will be sent to two distribution centers – the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance – Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said Sunday.

It is not known precisely when the vaccines will arrive, but earlier this month Cortez said the county would be receiving nearly 12,000 doses of the vaccine by mid-December.

State officials said that millions of doses will arrive in Texas on Monday and Tuesday.

State health officials, which determine the order of who receives the vaccine, have said that the first vaccinations will involve front line health care workers, the release stated

“On this historic day in which vaccinations for COVID-19 begin in Hidalgo County, I once again want to express my gratitude for the front-line medical workers who are getting the first round of vaccines,” Judge Cortez stated. “I ask for patience as we take part in the largest vaccination effort in history and I send my prayers that our community will hopefully begin to see the end of this terrible disease.”