This week's episode was about the delta variant risks at school along with a coronavirus update. I also talked about vaccinations and the struggle to get the vaccine dose. As the numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge, so has demand for the coronavirus vaccine. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, personnel administered more than 50% more doses of the vaccine last week than they had a month ago. Statewide, vaccines administered dipped to a post-March low of 314,614 the week of June 28. Last week, 475,131 people got the shot -- an increase of 51%. Vaccination across North Texas' four largest counties have largely mirrored those statewide. The raw number of vaccinations hit a low point the week of July 12, according to DSHS. But since then, the rate has steadily increased. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly led to the climbing vaccination rate, but it has coincided with the surge of the delta variant, which UT Southwestern says makes up 95% of new COVID-19 in Dallas-Fort Worth, the start of school in many Texas districts and the vaccine mandates put in place by some employers. Several healthcare systems in North Texas, including Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health and Parkland, will require employees to be vaccinated by this fall, as will United Airlines, which has a major hub in Houston. While the state breaks down total shots given by first and second dose and the age range of those receiving them, it's unclear who has received the most recent vaccines because those numbers are not broken down by week. Dallas County saw the largest increase among the region's four largest counties. The vaccinations jumped 67.6% the week of July 12, from 28,280 to 47,394.

To read more about these statistics, here are some sources for information:

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/as-delta-variant-surges-so-does-demand-for-vaccine-in-texas/2719900/

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/texas-local-school-officials-stick-with-mask-mandate-despite-court-setback-2021-08-16/