2021-032 Fire Department COVID VaccinationsDate: May 21, 2021 Report No. 2021-032
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Denton Fire Department COVID-19 Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Denton Fire Department (DFD) has been extremely involved locally and with the State with
COVID-19 testing even before the vaccines were available. Through the testing processes and
lessons learned, we quickly discovered that Denton County Public Health (DCPH) had a great plan
and process in place. They were coordinating on implementing a mass vaccination plan into action
once the vaccines became available.
As the COVID Vaccination Provider Program registration/sign-ups began, well before any
vaccines were approved for emergency use, the DFD were in discussions with DCPH about hosting
vaccine clinics within the City of Denton. We were fortunate that UNT (Discovery Park) and then
Denton ISD (CH Collins) had prime locations for mass drive thru vaccination sites. DCPH had a
superb model for mass vaccinations which was so efficient that even the CH Collins was quickly
outgrown. At that point the mass vaccination clinics were moved to Texas Motor Speedway to
accommodate larger daily and weekly volumes. The Denton Fire Department has been involved
with every mass vaccination clinic in the COD and at TMS since the inception of the vaccination
clinics through DCPH. This model has delivered over 350,000 doses and counting. Last week the
TMS site was closed since the number of individuals requesting to be vaccinated has dropped
dramatically. The site has now temporarily relocated back to CH Collins this week for 2 vaccine
clinics on Wednesday with approximately 500 doses and Thursday with approximately 3000
doses. These clinics have several 2nd dose recipients since the overall number of new individuals
signing up to request a vaccination has dwindled down to almost non-existent except for the newly
approved 12-18-year-old age group.
DISCUSSION:
Why is the City of Denton not a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider?
During the early stages of COVID-19 and throughout the process, the DFD did investigate in
becoming a registered COVID-19 Vaccine Provider. Ultimately the decision was made to not
become a provider for several reasons. Two of the key reasons included: 1- The storage of the
vaccines. To properly secure and store vaccines for on-going vaccination clinics requires
specialized refrigeration and, in some cases, ultra-cold freezers that the COD currently does not
have and would have had to acquire. 2-The DFD was building a great partnership with DCPH and
felt confident that they would be able to meet our expectations for ensuring that vaccinations are
readily available to our Citizens.
Current COVID Vaccination Clinics:
Date: May 21, 2021 Report No. 2021-032
As mentioned previously, DCPH has administered over 350,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses at
over 40 COVID-19 clinics. While most doses were administered at the mass hub site that they
established at Texas Motor Speedway, they have also administered approximately 10,000-20,000
in the COD at CH Collins. DCPH’s model in COVID-19 vaccinating is one of the model programs
in the United States and we are proud to have been partnering with them from the very beginning
on this project.
This week alone they scheduled 2 clinics at CH Collins with the first one being on Wednesday and
the second on Thursday. While these clinics were scheduled for a lot of 2nd dose recipients, they
are also open for 1st doses also. DCPH virtually does not have a waiting list at all anymore. In
fact, individuals without an appointment can literally pull up to the shot clinic today and get an
instant appointment by registering on the DCPH website. DCPH prefers photo id but it is not
required; some type of ID is required to assist in reporting/recording the vaccine in the statewide
database; ID type is a very general category—work/school ID, bills with mailing address, school
record, etc. DCPH has already scheduled another drive-up clinic for next week in-case additional
individuals would like to be vaccinated.
Some Additional Clinics that are On-Going through DCPH:
Going forward DCPH is already scheduling vaccine clinics at schools over the next few months
along with any additional clinics as needs are identified. Additionally, DCPH has also established
a “HomeBound” vaccination program. Since several County Fire Departments had been heavily
involved with Texas Motor Speedway and local Clinics within their own Cities, Denton County
Emergency Service District #1 (Argyle FD) has been tasked with this program. Currently this
program is averaging 5-8 “Home Visits” throughout Denton County twice a week. These clinics
focus on individuals that are homebound and have no other means of going to a traditional
vaccination clinic. The DFD will continue to support DCPH COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the
COD and we have also offered to assist ESD1 with their homebound missions within the COD.
Other Clinics within the COD:
The DFD has also been involved with the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM)
in their vaccination efforts for several months now. The most notable program within the COD
that we have been assisting them on is their “SNF” (Skilled Nursing Facilities) missions. TDEM
has been tasked with ensuring that all residents and staff in Skilled Nursing Facilities are offered
and administered COVID-19 vaccines. This project throughout that state have taken a
considerable amount of time and coordination and is ending this week (The last COD facility was
finished last week).
Another program going on in the State with Texas Military and TDEM is the new “Call Center
Connect” (CCC) Program in which any group of 10 or more can call 844-90-TEXAS to schedule
a visit from a mobile COVID-19 vaccination team.
Additionally, a quick search of pharmacies within the COD revealed that individuals can pretty
much receive a COVID-19 vaccination virtually any day of the week within the COD.
Date: May 21, 2021 Report No. 2021-032
Can the DFD arrange for groups to be vaccinated?
Yes, through our various partnerships we can find a provider (either DCPH or TDEM) to
administer COVID-19 vaccine doses to groups. We are also finalizing the logistics in which the
FD would utilize a van as a “Mini Mobile Clinic” within the COD. With this van, we can go out
and register individuals through the DCPH website and then have FD members administer the
doses. With this model DCPH will still be the provider and record keeper, but the DFD will be
the primary party in identifying groups/individuals and administering the COVID-19 vaccines.
How is the City assisting to reach individuals experiencing homelessness?
As reported in the May 7 Friday report, City staff from Community Services partnered with DCPH
and the United Way of Denton County (UWDC) to coordinate vaccine clinics for people
experiencing homelessness. On Friday, April 30, DCPH provided forty-four (44) vaccines at Our
Daily Bread and twenty-seven (27) vaccines at the Salvation Army in Lewisville. UWDC
partnered with each respective agency to pre-register individuals, and DCPH provided onsite
registration to individuals who arrived the day of the clinics. This was DCPH’s first attempt at
decentralizing their vaccine administration process and a successful attempt to target vulnerable
populations. Staff will continue to collaborate with community partners to coordinate vaccine
administration to vulnerable groups.
CONCLUSION:
We expect there to be changes in the future and will continue to be flexible and adapt to meet the
needs of the COD. Individuals wanting to still receive a COVID-19 vaccine have several options
readily available within the COD to receive a free vaccination.
There will likely continue to be small surges in individuals wishing to be vaccinated as additional
age groups open as we are currently seeing with the 12-18-year-old age group with Pfizer. We
will continue to work with our partner agencies to make sure our citizens are being offered vaccines
in a timely manner. DCPH has developed a great model in administering vaccines to our residents
and we are proud to be assisting them in whatever capacity is needed now and, in the future, as we
continue through this process.
STAFF CONTACT:
Kenneth Hedges, Fire Chief