UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Dear UTRGV Family,
Throughout this pandemic, UT Health RGV and the UTRGV School of Medicine have risen to meet the needs of our community. From establishing COVID-19 testing sites to delivering vaccines that have opened a path toward freedom from the virus, our team of dedicated medical experts and professionals has remained steadfast in its commitment to protecting you.
Maybe the most important way we have ever served you is as a COVID-19 Vaccination Hub Provider. This January, UT Health RGV was tapped by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to take on the role of administering life-saving vaccines to people across the Rio Grande Valley. As you know, COVID-19 has devastated our region. But though we suffered through some of the nation’s worst outbreaks, we are now among its vaccination leaders. On average, two-thirds — 67% — of all people aged 12 and over within our four-county region (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy) have received at least one dose. And among that same population, more than 54% are now fully vaccinated. With numbers likes these, it is no wonder why cases of COVID-19 continue to fall.
The success of these vaccines is nothing short of remarkable. However, now that most eligible individuals in our region have received their shots, demand for the vaccine has dramatically fallen both locally and nationwide. Because of this, UT Health RGV is transitioning COVID-19 vaccine distribution from the vaccine hubs to its clinical sites.
Transitioning from "Hubs" to Clinics
Rest assured that, during this transition, we expect to continue to receive a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines and accommodate our community’s needs. Additionally, moving COVID-19 vaccine operations to the clinics allows us to offer our patients more convenience and greater access to vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccines are now available to the general public at UT Health RGV clinics throughout the Valley. To register for the vaccine, please visit this page and follow the directions that best apply to you. For updates, including details on which clinics will offer vaccines, follow UT Health RGV on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
UTRGV Students and Employees
Current UTRGV students can now get a COVID-19 vaccine at Student Health locations in Edinburg and Brownsville, while employees can get theirs at Employee Health locations in Edinburg and Harlingen, and at Student Health in Brownsville. Walk-ups are welcome, though if you prefer to make an appointment, you may do so by registering via the UTRGV Vaccine Portal.
To date, UT Health RGV has administered 80,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines since December 2020. As one of the first providers in the Rio Grande Valley to distribute these vaccines, we are proud, humbled, and honored to have served as a hub during the pandemic’s most pivotal point.
On behalf of UT Health RGV and the UTRGV School of Medicine, thank you for entrusting us with your health amid the uncertainty and fear. We look forward to providing you — and the entire Rio Grande Valley — high-quality care now and for years to come.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Dobbs, MD, MHCM