Austin Public Health’s vaccine registration process has caused a bit of confusion. People have told KUT they’re experiencing technical difficulties with the signup portal or they’re frustrated because they’ve signed up but haven’t been able to snag an appointment yet. APH officials provided some insight into how this process is working during a briefing with Austin […]
Austin Public Health
The regional health authority tasked with protecting Travis County residents from infectious disease and other environmental threats.
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City, county partner up to launch Covid vaccine call center
Travis County is teaming up with the city of Austin to support a bilingual Covid-19 call center aimed at helping registered residents make appointments to get vaccinated. Stephanie Hayden-Howard, the director of Austin Public Health, told Tuesday’s special joint session of the Commissioners Court and City Council that the phone bank is expected to begin […]
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Top doc Escott defends decision to vaccinate state legislators
Interim Austin-Travis Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott doubled down yesterday on his conviction that state legislators should receive priority vaccinations, even if it means young and healthy lawmakers receive the vaccine ahead of more at-risk people. Citing both the in-person legislative session and the risk of a superspreader event potentially impeding the lawmaking process, Escott […]
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Hundreds line up for Covid vaccines from Austin Public Health. But the wait was ‘worth it.’
Frank Kucharski and his wife, Jill Jones, were near the back of the line that wove around an Austin Public Health vaccination center at least twice in Northeast Austin on Thursday. They estimated they had a three-hour wait ahead of them – but at least the weather was nice. “I’m glad it’s a sunny day, […]
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Alternate care site opens in Austin as area hospitals reach capacity
The Covid-19 alternate care site at the Austin Convention Center is now open as the county’s interim health authority warned overwhelming the area’s hospital system is “inevitable” at this point. “Patients will be referred here directly from hospitals; this is not a site where individuals can show up and receive care for Covid-19,” Dr. Mark […]
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‘Stay home and don’t travel,’ public health officials advise Austinites
Lee esta historia en español. People should take the rising number of Covid-19 cases into consideration as they weigh their holiday plans this week, the interim health authority for Austin-Travis County said. “Our best advice is stay home and don’t travel,” Dr. Mark Escott told reporters during a news conference Monday. Escott said the city […]
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As active Covid cases rise, officials warn of possible curfew, beg Austinites to have socially distanced holidays
Roughly nine months into the pandemic, Austin is seeing its highest number of active Covid-19 infections ahead of the holidays, and health officials are begging residents to limit contact to battle back the virus’ spread. Austin Public Health attributes the rise in cases largely to gatherings over Thanksgiving. Forecasts suggest that if left unchecked, the […]
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‘I’m so excited, I’m like shaking’: Austin health care workers receive first Covid-19 vaccines
Esmeralda Torres’ eyes lit up above her mask as she talked about the Covid-19 vaccine she’d gotten in her right arm Tuesday morning. “I’m so excited, I’m like shaking,” she said. “I’m so happy.” Torres, a medical assistant at UT Health Austin’s Musculoskeletal Institute, was one of the first people in Austin to receive the […]
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Health officials say vaccinations could begin in Austin next week once FDA gives approval
Austin Public Health’s interim authority said he’s “extremely impressed with the efficacy and safety” of the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine’s overall efficacy is 94.6 percent, Dr. Mark Escott said during a news conference Wednesday, and for people between the ages of 16 and 55 the rate is 95 percent. He said the […]
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Austin Public Health urges people who gathered for Thanksgiving to get tested and stay home
Austin Public Health officials are asking people who traveled for the holiday or celebrated Thanksgiving indoors with people from outside their household to stay home for a week and get tested for Covid-19 within the next few days. “It is critically important that everyone do their part to combat Covid-19 by avoiding gatherings and travel […]
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Austin health officials plead with residents to stay home for Thanksgiving
Local health officials are hoping people will heed the warnings about gatherings outside the household this week to avoid a repeat of what happened after other holidays this year. Most coronavirus numbers are still moving in the wrong direction in Austin and Travis County. There appears to be some improvement in recent days in the […]
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Austin area moves to Stage 4 Covid-19 risk guidelines
Lee esta historia en español. Austin is now under Stage 4 coronavirus risk guidelines, interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott announced Thursday, following an increase in hospitalizations and cases. Under these guidelines, the public is urged to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, and businesses are recommended to reduce capacity to 25-50 […]