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COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Vaccine

Show All Answers

1. I’m on the Collin County Health Care Services waitlist; now what?

Collin County Health Services uses an automated phone system to confirm your place on the waitlist. This call will come from 972-999-9999. Listen to the entire message and press 1 when prompted to confirm your place on the list. These calls will continue (up to three calls daily to each provided phone number) until you offer confirmation after listening to the message.

On Jan 13, the Collin County Commissioners Court and the Collin County legislative delegation this week sent a letter to the state expressing their ability to host a mega-center for large scale vaccine distribution. Read the release here.

McKinney City Council will discuss supporting a mega-center at the next regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan 19.

Due to the limited volume of vaccines available to McKinney and Collin County, you are encouraged to contact your primary health care provider and local pharmacy to inquire about additional vaccine availability. These providers represent the preferred distribution method and we expect as vaccines become more available in the coming months, this will be the best place to get a vaccine. Most private health care providers like pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians are maintaining their vaccine waitlists separate from the Collin County Health Care Services waitlist.

2. What’s the city’s current availability of doses?

This can be found in the Covid-19 Daily Report. Vaccines are in extremely limited supply at this time. Please be patient as it will take some time before vaccines are in sufficient supply to reach everyone in groups 1A and 1B and ultimately the general population.

3. How many vaccines does the city expect to receive?

The State of Texas manages the vaccine distribution. The City of McKinney has requested an initial quantity of 10,000 doses and if we receive them, we are currently planning to administer up to 1,000 doses per day when they arrive.

As of Jan 13, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) committed to send 2,000 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to the McKinney Fire Department next week. Another 4,975 doses were committed to Collin County Health Care Services, Allen Fire Department, and an undisclosed local hospital.

More information will be shared when it becomes available.

4. What happens when the city receives the requested vaccines?

As soon as the city receives notice of our vaccine allocation, we will notify residents on the waitlist that we expect a shipment and the quantity we should receive.

5. How will I be contacted for a vaccine appointment?

These details are still being coordinated. More information will be shared soon.

6. How much notice am I going to get ahead of my vaccination appointment?

It depends on how much notice we are given from the State before our shipment arrives. We anticipate it could be anywhere from 24 hours to one week.

7. What if I’m not available during my appointment time?

Due to the high volume of requests for the vaccine, the limited supply and the need to administer every dose within a short time frame, you should make every effort to be at the assigned appointment time. At this time, the city cannot accommodate appointment changes and the appointment will be given to the next person on the list.

8. If I receive a vaccine from another provider, can I remove myself from this list?

Collin County will soon begin using its phone messaging system to poll those on the waitlist and confirm if they want to remain on the list.

9. I’m not in group 1A or 1B but want to be vaccinated, how do I get on the waitlist?

The Collin County waitlist is only for those in groups 1A and 1B, which are the current priority according to the DSHS

10. I think I have COVID-19, what should I do?

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2 -14 days after exposure. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Refer to the table for a list of symptoms and the type of action you should take based on your symptoms.

Symptoms	Action
Flu-like symptoms Low-grade fever Repeated shaking with chills Muscle pain Headache Sore throat New loss of taste or smell	Call your doctor or other medical facilities. Follow their directions.
High-grade fever Difficulty breathing Chest pains Other life-threatening signs and symptoms	Call 911

Please remember that emergency responders can not diagnose in the field. All individuals arriving at the ER are treated first - on the severity of their symptoms and second - on the order of arrival.

11. Where can I go to be tested?

• If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or you are a resident in a community where there is ongoing spread of COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure. They will decide whether you need to be tested, but keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill may be able to isolate and care for themselves at home (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html).
• Currently, some medical centers/hospitals are putting in place temporary testing facilities. Please consult with your physician for further information.

12. How can I help protect myself?

Two vaccines have been created to help prevent COVID-19, however, manufacture and distribution of the vaccines currently lags behind need and demand. Until you can get the vaccine, the best way to protect yourself from illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Everyday preventative actions can help mitigate the spread of respiratory viruses including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, etc. daily using regular household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Community-based interventions such as as social distancing, wearing masks and working remotely when possible can help slow the spread of COVID-19.

13. Should I wear a face mask?

Yes, all persons 10 years or older are required to wear a face mask or covering per Executive Order GA 29.

• The CDC advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
• Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. To learn more about homemade cloth face coverings, visit the CDC’s website.
• To learn more about homemade cloth face coverings, visit the CDC’s website.

14. Do I need to wear a mask when I am dining in a restaurant?

No, if you are eating, drinking or seated for dining consumption a mask is not required.

15. Am I required to wear a mask or face covering if I have health issues that make it difficult for me to wear one?

No, if wearing a mask or face covering poses a significant mental or physical health risk you are not required to wear one.

16. I want to donate goods to help my community, where do I start?

If you want to help out the community by donating food, toiletries and other supplies, contact Volunteer McKinney. 

During this time, Volunteer McKinney is coordinating services for non-profits in the city. Volunteer McKinney will send you and your gifts to where they are needed most right now.

Ph: 903-253-6746

Email: edie@volunteermckinney.org

Website: https://volunteermckinney.org/

17. Collin County was not included on the Texas Department of State Health Services list as a vaccination hub; what does this mean for getting my vaccine from McKinney?

The State of Texas manages the vaccine distribution. While the State is focusing on those areas with the most pressing needs, they are also discussing the potential for a vaccination hub with Collin County officials. In the meantime, the City of McKinney has requested an initial quantity of 10,000 doses and if we receive them, we are currently planning to administer up to 1,000 doses per day when they arrive.

18. Will the city or county set up a vaccination supercenter?

The Collin County Commissioner’s Court was scheduled to discuss a mass vaccination hub in Collin County with a third party vendor today. No decisions have been made at this time; we will share more information when it is available.

19. I received an automated call from the Collin County Health Care Services but did not listen to the full message or confirm my place on the waitlist. Have I been removed from the waitlist?

No one has been removed from the waitlist. Collin County Health Services may use its automated system to confirm if you wish to remain on the waitlist in the future, but no one has been removed at this time.

Collin County Health Services uses an automated phone system to confirm your place on the waitlist. This call will come from 972-999-9999. Listen to the entire message and press 1 when prompted to confirm your place on the list. These calls will continue (up to three calls daily to each provided phone number) until you offer confirmation after listening to the message.