Texas will make all adults eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning on Monday, March 29, making it the largest state to do so.
The Texas Department of State Health Services made the announcement in a press release Tuesday, saying that the Department “expects vaccine supplies to increase next week.”
“We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel.
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Vaccine providers must still give priority to those age 80 and older, according to DSHS.
Texas has a population of about 29 million. It has so far administered over 9.3 million vaccinations. Over 6.3 million people have received at least one dose, while nearly 3.2 million have been fully vaccinated.
Earlier in March, Texas expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to people over age 50. Previously, it had been limited to those age 65 and older and those with a qualifying health condition.
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Texas would be the third state to open vaccines to all adults, along with Ohio, which is also set to broaden eligibility on the 29th. Alaska became the first state to do so on March 9, followed by Mississippi on March 23.