FEMA vaccination sites at NRG Park and 2 other Texas cities to remain open through May 18

AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- The COVID-19 vaccination site at NRG Park, originally planned to administer 6,000 shots in a span of six weeks, will get a chance to serve vaccine-seekers a little bit longer.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that FEMA granted partial approval for an extension request that he submitted last month.

The video above is from a February 2021 report ahead of the opening of the FEMA-supported NRG Park vaccination site.

Under the partial approval, pilot vaccination sites at Houston's NRG Park, Dallas' Fair Park and Arlington's Esports Stadium will continue to operate through May 18.

While the extension is for the personnel at each site, Abbott's office noted the partial approval does not include extension of federal vaccine shipments and supplies. All remaining needed vaccines would have to be provided by the state.

The site opened on Feb. 24 with an original run of six weeks. Abbott, along with Houston Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, had sought to keep the site running through the end of May.

"Where the federal government falls short, Texas will step in by providing the supplies and vaccine doses needed to keep these successful sites operational. We will continue to work with our federal and local partners to ensure our communities have access to COVID-19 vaccines," Abbott said.

In their appeal to FEMA, Turner and Hidalgo noted the importance of getting underserved populations vaccinated.

SEE MORE: Houston, Harris County requesting extension in support for vaccine clinic at NRG Park

FEMA, with support of local organizations, was expected to, at minimum, vaccinate 126,000 people.

Statewide, as of Wednesday, April 7, Texas is closing in on 5 million fully-vaccinated people. It's also closing in on 13 million doses administered.

DASHBOARD: Texas Department of State Health Services vaccination tally