Gov. Abbott gives update on ‘Save Our Seniors’ initiative

Governor Abbott announced Thursday a new outreach partnership to help enhance the state’s Save our Seniors program.

The partnership includes the Texas Employee Retirement System, the Texas Teachers Retirement System, AARP, and Medicare health plans. Participating Medicare health plans include UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will work with the partnerships to launch a direct outreach effort through email, phone calls, and direct mail to encourage seniors to get vaccinated, and to provide them with tools and information they need to receive a vaccine.

The outreach partnership is expected to reach 2 million seniors.

“With the continued success of the Save Our Seniors program, we are protecting more seniors in Texas from COVID-19,” Abbott said. “This new outreach partnership will strengthen this program by helping us reach more seniors across the state and ensuring they have the tools and information they need to get a COVID-19 vaccine.”

The partnership comes days before all adults in Texas, ages 16 and older, will be able to get vaccinated.

The Texas Department of State Health Services also directed vaccine providers to prioritize people ages 80 or older when scheduling appointments, by immediately moving them to the front of the vaccination line.

According to Abbott, anyone who wants to get a vaccine shot should call 211. From there, you will be connected to COVID-19 response, where an operator will then give you the nearest location to get vaccinated.