Vaccinations

“We must be flexible,” APH Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard said Friday. “Our goal is to provide vaccines to our community and meet them where they are.”

UT Austin and Austin Public Health said demand has decreased, so they are looking at changing how they administer vaccines.

“The supply has caught up with the demand. We have made great progress in helping people get vaccinated," County Judge Bill Gravell said, adding that the county still had a way to go.

An expert advisory committee to the CDC decided it needed more time to consider whether to recommend the restart administration of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson.

Even though eligibility has expanded, it hasn't gotten much easier to actually find an appointment.

COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective but don't always provide perfect protection. Some vaccinated people later exposed to the virus still get sick. Why and how often that happens is under study.

Messaging is important in public health. People who voted for Trump were especially hesitant about a "vaccine passport." But call it a "verification," and more people support it.

From sporting arenas to colleges and cruise ships, many businesses are planning to ask customers to prove they've had their shots. Smartphone apps may be coming soon.

Organizers are trying to eliminate barriers, like internet access and location, by setting up walk-in vaccine clinics and distributing flyers to spread information.

These digital credentials could return us to normal life more quickly, but they have stirred controversy in some quarters.