The County Connection Lina Hidalgo | Harris County Judge

We are seeing some signs that we may be reaching a peak to this latest COVID-19 spike, but the raw number of cases and hospitalizations here in Harris County are still catastrophically high. And although our medical professionals are working nonstop to bring those numbers down, there is still a limited number of beds and staff to treat the surge of unvaccinated residents flooding our hospitals. Emergency rooms have had to close. Vital surgeries have had to be delayed. And people are dying when they shouldn’t be. Harris County is home to the world’s biggest and best medical center. This shouldn’t happen anywhere in America, but especially not here.

While we are doing everything possible to support our nurses, they are physically and mentally drained. Since August 11th, Harris County hospitals have received 4 deployments of nurses. Around 1,300 nurses have been sent to Harris County to support the local effort and over 2,000 nurses have arrived in our region, including 622 nurses that Harris County recruited thanks to $30 million Commissioner’s Court approved last month to secure more help. But additional nurses alone won’t stop the numbers we are seeing — we need the support of our entire community to make it through this and give our medical workers the level of relief they need and deserve.

So please, if you haven’t already, get vaccinated. Until September 14th, Harris County residents receive $100 when they receive their first dose anywhere in Harris County. If you visit a Harris County Public Health site, you will receive a cash card there immediately following your vaccination. If you prefer to use another provider in Harris County, and you are a Harris County resident, you can also fill out our online form to receive $100 once we verify your vaccination status — no insurance required. Visit ReadyHarris.org or call 832-927-8787 to sign up for an appointment with Harris County Public Health or to claim your $100 if you got your vaccine at a non-Harris County Public Health provider.

But even if you don’t want to do it for your health, or the cash, do it for our exhausted nurses and medical personnel. And if you have gotten vaccinated already, persuade those in your life who will listen to you to do the same. The decision to get vaccinated impacts all of us — the next car accident or sudden, treatable illness that requires an ICU bed could happen to someone you know and love, and we need those beds open and ready.