More than one million people in Texas are more than 90 days overdue for their second COVID-19 vaccine. That's according to the Department of State Health Services. About two million are at least more than 30 days overdue.
“A few people that I spoke to yesterday had a bad experience with the first dose and they were hesitant to come back and take the other,” said Paul Saldana, one of the organizers of the Austin Latino Coalition’s vaccine clinics. He says he's seen a lot of hesitancy in the Hispanic community, even in people who have taken the first shot.
This week, Austin Public Health said one shot is not enough. “We're considering anyone who has not completed the course as unvaccinated,” APH’s Adrienne Sturrup told Travis County commissioners Tuesday.
In earlier stages of the pandemic, one shot of the mRNA vaccine provided significant protection. That's not the case now. “You do get some protection from the first dose; however, you don't get full protection until you get both doses. And especially in the era of the Delta variant,” said Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, an associate professor of infectious disease at Baylor College of Medicine. He says even those who are months overdue will gain protection from the coronavirus. “You don't have to repeat the first dose and even if it comes later, that's also ok, that's if somebody happens to have missed their appointment.”
Meantime, part of the problem for some is when and where they can get a second shot. “A lot of our people are overrepresented as frontline workers, essential workers,” Saldana said. Long workdays and no paid time off are part of the problem -- and that's why Saldana says if people can't come to the vaccine, the vaccine needs to go to them. “Most of the clinic or vaccine options are not available at times that are conducive to their work schedule so that's why we go to places of employment.”