22 Mayors to Biden: Give cities direct allotments of vaccines

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg joined 21 of his mayoral colleagues in sending a letter to President-elect Joe Biden asking for cities to receive direct allotments of COVID-19 vaccines.

Currently, state and federal agencies are tasked with allocating doses. In Texas, state officials started organizing mass vaccination hubs the week of Jan. 7.

The letter, which includes Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, was sent on Wednesday. The city leaders said they are ready to help the Biden administration reach the goal of inoculating 100 million Americans in the new president’s first 100 days, but direct access to vaccines is essential. The mayors also requested funding to support the rollout’s infrastructure as well as community outreach, especially to disadvantaged communities where residents are “vaccine hesitant,” the letter said.

The mayors recognized the importance of working with public health agencies, providers and pharmacies, but said there is room to “be nimble and fill gaps” in each city.

The mayors pointed to their testing operations as proof of their ability to handle vaccinations.

In San Antonio, phone lines have been jammed as residents attempt to snag an appointment for the vaccine. Appointment slots for the city’s three mass sites are currently full.

Nirenberg shared the letter sent to Biden on social media Wednesday.

“Cities have consistently been on the front line of our nation’s COVID-19 response. I’m proud to join my mayoral colleagues in requesting that the Biden Administration prioritize a direct line of vaccines to our communities. We must do all we can to expand & improve access,” he said with the post.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | [email protected] | @maddyskye