By News and Internal Communications

Dr. Linda Nelson, a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP), RN, pediatric nurse practitioner and senior director of Clinical Operations for the UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV, unpacked the boxes of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Dec. 28, at the UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center in Mercedes, Texas. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine – the second vaccine granted emergency authorization by the federal government – arrived Monday at the UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center in Mercedes and the UTRGV Clinical Education Building in Harlingen. 

UT Health RGV received a total of 900 doses, of which 500 will go to Harlingen and also be administered in Brownsville, and 400 for Mercedes.

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

UT Health RGV will begin administering the Moderna vaccine by appointment only from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the following days and at the following locations: 

• Tuesday, Dec. 29 — UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center, Mercedes and Clinical Education Building, Harlingen  
• Wednesday, Dec. 30 – UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center, Mercedes and Interdisciplinary Academic Building, Brownsville
• Thursday, Dec. 31 — UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center, Mercedes and Clinical Education Building, Harlingen  

The UTRGV School of Medicine and its care team, UT Health RGV, continue to safely and efficiently administer the COVID-19 vaccine based on group prioritization and vaccine availability.

The limited supply of vaccines will only be administered to the three groups of individuals who have been prioritized by state health officials to receive the vaccine first:

• Frontline employees who have heightened exposure to the virus or who must remain healthy to support others as cases surge.
• Individuals ages 65 and older.
• Individuals ages 65 and younger* who, according to state and federal health care officials, have an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 because they have the following comorbidities:
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Immunocompromised diseases
  • Chronic lung diseases
  • Chronic heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Chronic neurological diseases
  • Morbid obesity

REGISTER FOR VACCINE

For individuals that fall within any of these groups, please register with UT Health RGV by completing an online form. Individuals with any of the comorbidities listed above will be asked to self-disclose their condition in order to secure an appointment.

UT Health RGV will not be distributing vaccines on a first-come, first-serve, walk-in basis, so as to not lead to long lines and hours-long waits — two factors that could increase exposure to COVID-19 at a time when cases are increasing.

As of Monday morning, over 4,000 individuals had already registered with UT Health RGV.

A couple of weeks ago, UTRGV received 1,950 of the Pfizer vaccines, which were administered to the university’s healthcare providers and support staff as well as non-UTRGV healthcare workers.

Dr. John H. Krouse, UTRGV executive vice president for Health Affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, urged continued caution and adherence to the safety protocols, to include wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and maintaining six feet of distance from others.

“When it is your time, and you are prioritized to receive the vaccine, you should do so,” said Krouse. “We really know that the vaccine is the way that all of us are going to be able to get back to a more normal life. And then, hopefully next year when we are getting to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, we will be able to be with our families in a way that we really can’t quite be this year.”

For more information or to fill out the registration form, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine webpage. For the latest UTRGV operational updates, protocols and guidelines regarding COVID-19, visit and Commitment to Safety and Success.