[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 126 (Monday, July 19, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE DENTON COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 19, 2021

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions 
of the individuals, agencies, corporations, and organizations that made 
the Denton County, Texas COVID-19 vaccine distribution program 
possible. This massive undertaking was accomplished through the 
collective efforts of the Denton County Public Health Department, 
Denton County Emergency Management, County Judge Andy Eads and the 
Denton County Commissioners Court, the Denton County Medical Reserve 
Corps, and thousands of corporate and private citizen volunteers. 
Thanks to the selfless service of these groups and individuals, our 
community's vaccine distribution was not only highly successful, but 
seminal in providing a distribution model for Texas and across the 
country.
  In particular, I would like to recognize the success of the Texas 
Motor Speedway (TMS) Denton County Mass Vaccination Site. The concept 
of an efficient drive-through vaccine delivery model was initially 
tested beginning in January 2021 at Denton ISD's C.H. Collins Stadium 
with the vaccination of over 12,000 individuals. Eddie Gossage, 
President of Texas Motor Speedway (TMS), offered the huge outdoor 
facility for the county's distribution efforts. Due to excellent 
planning, preparation and staging by Denton County's Health and 
Emergency Management and the exemplary diligence of 8,350 civilian 
volunteers, the TMS mass vaccination clinic, during its period of 
operation from February to May 2021, vaccinated over 375,000 North 
Texans. On March 16, 2021, the TMS clinic broke the national record for 
the most individuals vaccinated in a 9.5 hour period, with 12,927 
vaccinations. The mass clinic also broke another record for a 10-hour 
period on April 29, with 17,004 vaccinations. Amidst these record-
breaking clinics, effective and efficient operations resulted in wait 
times per vehicle averaging 10 minutes from check-in to vaccination, 
followed by a 15 to 30-minute observation period.
  The administration of Denton County was instrumental in organizing 
this tremendous operation. Judge Eads and the Denton County 
Commissioners are to be commended for their endorsement and oversight 
of the TMS clinic, as well as other vaccine distribution sites across 
the county. The diligence and devotion of both county officials and 
frontline workers has ensured the health and well-being of hundreds of 
thousands of their constituents and neighbors.
  The vaccination effort was further bolstered by the philanthropic 
outpouring of time and efforts from many volunteer organizations, 
including Denton County's Medical Reserve Corps. The members of the 
Denton County Medical Reserve Corps, in addition to performing 
screenings, offering accessible information services, and encouraging 
the vaccination effort, vaccinated over 10,000 individuals per day 
through their point of distribution at the Texas Motor Speedway. Over 
125,000 residents of the county have been directly vaccinated thus far 
by the Medical Corps, and their community awareness and involvement 
campaigns have resulted in even more individuals receiving a COVID-19 
vaccine. Due to its exemplary performance, the Denton County MRC was 
selected as an awardee for the MRC Program National Recognition Awardee 
for Community Response in COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts.
  In addition, in June the North Central Texas Council of Governments 
(NCTCOG) awarded the Denton County Mass Vaccination Cooperation Site 
the 2021 Regional Cooperation Award. This award is presented to two or 
more local governments acting in tandem to address the concerns of the 
community. I join NCTCOG in extoling the monumental cooperation that 
allowed the vaccination effort to reach across city and county lines. 
The 42-regional partners that made this success possible are truly an 
estimable model of community service and camaraderie.
  The Denton County Mass Vaccination Cooperative has been invaluable to 
bolstering the public health and wellbeing of the citizens of the 
county, state, and nation. The North Texas community gratefully 
applauds the staff and volunteers for their whole-hearted service in 
the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their aid in bringing this 
crisis under control.
  It is my privilege to recognize the Denton County Mass Vaccination 
program and congratulate the TMS clinic for receiving the NCTCOG 
Regional Cooperation Award, and the Denton County MRC for its national 
commendation. I trust that Denton County's continuing efforts will 
enhance the safety and security of our community. The frontline workers 
and volunteers that have shouldered the burden of the vaccination 
distribution are truly a model of civic responsibility and courage, and 
I thank them for their outstanding efforts

                          ____________________