COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration reaches capacity for at-risk Fort Bend Co. residents

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A new shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses from the state arrived in Fort Bend County Monday night, according to County Judge KP George, and with that, registration opened for at-risk residents.

George said the county received 12,000 doses Monday, but they are expecting regular shipments weekly since Fort Bend County has been designated as a hub.

Residents will need an appointment to be vaccinated. Residents in group 1A and 1B were able to register online at www.fbchealth.org.

After several hours, registration reached capacity. Fort Bend County health officials encouraged residents to watch out for updates on social media to see when registration opens again.

Phase 1A includes medical workers and those living in nursing homes, and Phase 1B includes anyone who is 65 and older, or 16 and older with a chronic medical condition such as cancer, COPD, heart conditions, organ transplant, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease and type 2 diabetes.

According to county health officials, residents who registered online will receive a message alerting them that in the coming weeks, they will get an email saying when they can schedule their appointment.

Health officials hope this eases the registration process so residents don't have to wait on a call and can instead schedule their appointments at their own convenience.

In order to not crash their systems, health officials say the emails with personalized sign-up links will be sent in phases over the coming weeks.

Fort Bend County announced great news for residents who already received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

They announced the second Moderna doses are on their way to Fort Bend County, and residents will get a call or email with appointment details.

Officials noted that the calls will come from unknown or private numbers.

George also announced that the county hopes to open at least one vaccination location in each precinct in the future.

George recently told ABC13 that the county would be launching a COVID-19 distribution app.

George said the debut may happen as preparations are underway for new mega sites to administer the vaccine.

The app will allow residents of Fort Bend County to sign up for a vaccination appointment, George said. He said he hopes it'll streamline the process.

"Rather than you call or wait for it, you get an appointment that usually lasts for maybe five days, because people try in so many places," said George. "We don't want to multi-book people. That is why there is a shorter time frame."

This comes after both Harris and Galveston counties announced plans for a vaccine waitlist portal.

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