'People are stepping up' on COVID-19 vaccinations, Hidalgo says

There is more good news on the COVID-19 vaccination front in Harris County with 43.8% of residents over the age of 12 fully vaccination, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo reported.

"Every day, we're making enormous strides toward normalcy,” the judge said on Twitter. “This is happening because people are stepping up. Help us beat this virus once and for all. Get vaccinated."

The percentages are even higher – 55.2% – if you include residents who have received one shot and are therefore only partially vaccinated, Hidalgo said.

On May 27, Hidalgo moved the Harris County COVID-19 Threat Level Indicator from Level 2 – orange to Level 3 – yellow. Yellow is the second lowest threat level.

The lower threat level was prompted by “significant progress” in lowering threat of COVID-19 including the growing number of people vaccinated and the efficacy of the vaccines, the judge said in a news release.

“This is an important and encouraging, but still fragile, milestone in our fight against COVID-19,” Hidalgo said. “Our community is doing what it needs to do to move the needle in the right direction, but the threat of stalling or moving backwards remains very real.”

Residents who are fully vaccinated don’t need to wear masks, “except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance,” Hidalgo said.

On June 3, she announced a scholarship program designed to encourage young people to get vaccinated for COVID-19, KPRC 2 reported.

Students under the age of 18 are eligible for a raffle with the winner receiving a $5,000 scholarship to attend any community college, public college or university in Texas, the station reported.

In order to be eligible for a drawing, students must have received at least one dose of vaccine, the station said.

Drawings will be held once a week for at least 10 weeks, the story said.

Go to ReadyHarris.org or call 832-927-8787 for more information.