Tag Archives: vaccinations

What to expect when you’re fully vaccinated

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The CDC has released some guidance that will help people understand what is safe to do and what precautions they will still need to take once they are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors … Continue reading →

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What can we expect from the maskless mandate?

Posted on March 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

More COVID, obviously. The Centers for Disease Control is increasing pressure on Republican leaders in states like Texas that have eased COVID restrictions, publishing a study on Friday showing evidence that the measures — such as the mask requirement that … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

More maskless mandate stuff

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of a roundup, because there’s so much out there. Three of Gov. Greg Abbott’s four coronavirus medical advisers say they weren’t directly consulted prior to lifting mask mandate In April 2020, an optimistic Gov. Greg Abbott announced at … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

President Biden disagrees with the maskless mandate

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, duh. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Texas made a “big mistake” by removing its statewide mask mandate and suggested the decision reflected “Neanderthal thinking.” The comments by the Democratic president came a day after Republican Gov. Greg … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Vaccination hesitation blues

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This is the next thing we will have to really focus on. Most Texas voters believe vaccines are safe and effective, but 28% do not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to them, according to the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Reactions to the maskless mandate

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s start with the doctors, since clearly they weren’t consulted. Houston-area doctors and medical professionals reacted with dismay to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Tuesday decision to roll back the state’s mask mandate and other precautions against COVID-19. “I had a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Teachers can get the COVID vaccine now

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

About time. Texas teachers are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, health officials announced Wednesday. Effective immediately, all Texas vaccine providers should include all school staff, Head Start program staff, and child care staff in their vaccine administration programs, according to … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We’ve got all kinds

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Not the kind of distinction you want. Houston is the nation’s first city to record every major variant of the novel coronavirus — many of which are more contagious than the original strain. “The numbers of the major variants we … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abbott lifts statewide mask mandate

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Unbelievable. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he is ending Texas’ statewide mask mandate next week and will allow all businesses to operate at full capacity. “It is now time to open Texas 100%,” Abbott said from a Mexican restaurant … Continue reading →

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More vaccines coming

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Bring ’em. The Food and Drug Administration approved Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday for use in the U.S., the third vaccine to be approved since the pandemic began. Texas could initially receive more than 200,000 doses, according to … Continue reading →

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Please don’t take your mask off yet

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Seriously, what’s the rush? Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that Texas is looking at when it will be able to lift all statewide orders related to the coronavirus pandemic and that an announcement is forthcoming. Abbott made the comments at … Continue reading →

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Biden’s visit to Houston

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s so nice to have a normal, functional person as President, isn’t it? President Joe Biden, in his first trip to Texas since taking office, toured Houston on Friday to size up the aftermath of the state’s recent winter weather … Continue reading →

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Vaccination progress

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Making progress. One in eight Harris County residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, according to state and local data. A Chronicle analysis found that the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

President Biden will visit Houston on Friday

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here he comes. President Joe Biden plans to come to Texas on Friday in the wake of extensive winter storm damage in the state. The president and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Houston, according to a White House … Continue reading →

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We can get back to vaccinations

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Federal vaccination super site opening this week. COVID-19 vaccination efforts are about to significantly ramp up next week in Houston. The region’s first vaccination “super site” will open on Tuesday at NRG Stadium, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced on … Continue reading →

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We should be vaccinating grocery workers

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The only disagreement I have with this is that we should have more broadly classified “essential workers” from the beginning, and it should include more people who do not have the ability to work from home. Nearly a year into … Continue reading →

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Here come the super-sites

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Texas is working with the federal government to open vaccination “super sites” that could administer upward of 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day, Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday. Houston and Dallas will likely host the initial two sites, Abbott said, … Continue reading →

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As the COVID mutates

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Just another reminder that we need to continue trying not to spread the virus while we wait for everyone to get vaccinated. A more contagious variant of the coronavirus first found in Britain is spreading rapidly in the United States, … Continue reading →

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Vaccines at the stadia

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Everyone has a role to play in getting us all vaccinated. The NFL is telling the federal government it will make the remaining of the league’s 30 stadiums available as COVID-19 vaccination sites, joining the seven facilities already administering … Continue reading →

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Let me Google that vaccine locator for you

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In the coming weeks, Google will begin implementing a vaccine locator service on its platforms for Texans to use, including appointment details, clinic hours and more. The rollout comes as part of a $150 million plan announced by Google … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Getting the kids caught up at school

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna be a big job, and hopefully we can do it in earnest beginning in August. With students finally settling into a pandemic-altered routine and widespread vaccine access on the horizon, Texas education leaders are turning to their next great … Continue reading →

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Bringing vaccines to your local pharmacy

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Makes a lot of sense. Retail pharmacies will bring more COVID-19 vaccines to Houston and across the country following a boost by the Biden administration to increase distribution to the public. CVS Health will roll out 38,000 COVID-19 vaccines to … Continue reading →

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The other obstacle to getting people vaccinated

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Some people just don’t want it. Millions of Texans do not want to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new University of Houston survey. While 38 percent of those surveyed said they will be vaccinated when it becomes available … Continue reading →

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Rodeo cancelled again

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. RodeoHouston is hanging up the cowboy hat for 2021. No mutton busting. No fried Twinkies. No bed salesmen in NRG Center. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo made the announcement Wednesday morning, which includes all competitions, concerts and entertainment, … Continue reading →

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“Nobody is getting enough”

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much says it all. As Texans scramble for appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, federal data helps explain why: Relative to its population, the Lone Star State ranks near the bottom in the country in number of doses received. Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Why isn’t COVID an emergency item?

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ask Greg Abbott. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday unveiled a legislative agenda centered on the state’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a series of more politically charged issues such as police funding and “election integrity.” In his biennial State … Continue reading →

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The second shot portal

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

People are going to need this, too. Houston officials plan to launch a website this week that will let people schedule appointments for their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health Director Stephen Williams on Monday said officials plan to … Continue reading →

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More vaccines coming

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Still not enough, but getting better. Texas this week expects to receive more than half a million first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government, state health officials announced Friday. The 520,425 doses will be shipped to 344 … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

That new Harris County vaccine signup page sure is popular

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

If you didn’t get through on Day One, keep trying. More than 49,000 people have managed to get onto Harris County’s new COVID-19 vaccination wait list Tuesday despite technical issues that diminished access for some to the county’s website. Harris … Continue reading →

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Will Spring Training start on time?

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, maybe not. Less than a month before pitchers and catchers are set to report, the Cactus League released a letter it sent to Major League Baseball in which it called for spring training to be delayed, a move it … Continue reading →

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The COVID vaccine wait list

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good idea, and about time. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Monday afternoon a new COVID-19 vaccine waitlist, in an effort to ensure those who are high priority don’t get overlooked and make for a smoother process. Hidalgo explained the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Of course some anti-vaxx groups got PPP funds

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Completely on brand. Texas-based anti-vaccine organization Informed Consent Action Network was among five anti-vaccine groups that collectively received more than $850,000 in federal loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, the Washington Post reported Monday. The organization received $166,000 in May 2020, … Continue reading →

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Nowhere to go but up with COVID vaccines

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Starting from scratch. Newly sworn in President Joe Biden and his advisers are inheriting no coronavirus vaccine distribution plan to speak of from the Trump administration, sources tell CNN, posing a significant challenge for the new White House. The Biden … Continue reading →

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Our petty Governor

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sheesh. Gov. Greg Abbott met with hospital executives in Houston on Tuesday to discuss the state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout, while appearing to snub city and county officials who are overseeing a bulk of the distribution. The Republican governor said the … Continue reading →

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