As the vaccine rolls out across North Texas, first responder Michael Marsh is especially aware of just how far the medical community has come.
In March, Marsh – the Operations Manager in Arlington for American Medical Response, was deployed to New York City as the first COVID-19 surge paralyzed the city.
“I guess you could say it was very surreal,” said Marsh. “This is the first time I’ve seen responders in a kind of anxiety.”
Want to Get on a Vaccine Waitlist?
County health departments have launched waitlists for adults 16 years old and over.
You can register to recieve the vaccination in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. Links are below:
Waitlist Links: Collin - Search Waitlist | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant
You do not need to be a resident of the county to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that county -- registration is open to anyone in Texas. For those without internet access, Tarrant County is also taking registrations by phone at 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, call the DCHHS vaccine hotline at 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639). In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.
For a more detailed breakdown of who is included in each priority group in Texas, see this page from the Texas DSHS.
In New York City, Marsh oversaw the operations of 350 ambulances and during his time in the city, one of his paramedics contracted the virus and died.
“I personally took Paul to the hospital in New York and watching him deteriorate, that was a first for me, I’ve never lost anyone,” he said.
The impact of the loss and the lessons learned were all things Marsh has brought with him back to North Texas. At the Arlington site, he is helping to oversee the inoculation of about 2,000 people every day, providing an opportunity to finish what he started months ago.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“To stop in this big arena floor and be like ‘we have worked so hard for this moment,’” said Marsh.
*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
