Provider Enrollment Now Available for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

November 20, 2020 – COVID-19 vaccine planning is currently happening at federal, state, and local levels of government. In anticipation of the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) Immunization Administration/Advocacy Program invites any facility, pharmacy, organization, or healthcare provider licensed to possess or administer vaccine or provide vaccination services to consider enrolling as a COVID-19 vaccine provider.   

WCCHD’s planning efforts are aligned with both the CDC’s Vaccine Playbook and the related Texas Vaccine Distribution Plan. The State plan is based around leveraging the private/public provider network to ensure broad coverage and sustainability, through four phases of priority and vaccine availability: Planning Phase (current - until a vaccine is  approved), Phase 1 (may be a limited number of doses available to allocate to providers who will be able to reach critical populations at highest risk such as health care workers), Phase 2 (supply is adequate and community-based providers will play a key role), and Phase 3 (routine administration is widely available).  

A COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available, multiple candidate COVID-19 vaccines are currently in trial phases II or III at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Exact timelines are not known at this time. 

“We want all Williamson County residents to have access to a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them,” said Immunization Advocacy Director Dr. Caroline Hilbert. “This enrollment tool will help us partner with organizations, integrate vaccinations into our statewide COVID-19 response, and ensure that once a vaccine is approved, we can efficiently distribute it across the county.” 

The first step to becoming a COVID-19 vaccine provider is registering through https://enrolltexasiz.dshs.texas.gov/emrlogin.asp. Only providers registered through this site can receive and administer COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Enrolled vaccination providers will get COVID-19 vaccines from the Texas immunization program. Vaccines will not be available for purchase. 

For questions about registration, please call the DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine Provider hotline at 877-835-7750, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or email COVID19VacEnroll@dshs.texas.gov. 

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