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Travis County to host mass-vaccination event at COTA this weekend

Travis County hosted a second pilot drive-thru vaccination event at the Precinct 4 constable's office on Feb. 6.
Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and eleven weeks into the vaccine rollout, Travis County is getting its first mass drive-thru vaccine event.
Travis County commissioners voted unanimously to set up the operation this weekend—which will focus on CommUnityCare's existing patient network, which is largely uninsured or underinsured, as well as regional school district staff who qualify as members of the 1B group—at their meeting on Tuesday. The effort is a collaboration between four Central Texas counties, including Bastrop, Caldwell and Hays.
The event, which is still being planned and for which there is not yet a set date, aims to vaccinate 3,000 people from the four participating counties. It will be held at the Circuit of the Americas and will only be open to patients with appointments made after being contacted by CommUnityCare or the school distrcits. Commissioner Brigid Shea described the outreach process as: "Don't call us, we'll call you."
The effort is the result of a series of letters sent to state and federal agencies on Feb. 12, the Friday before a series of winter storms devastated Texas. Travis County Judge Andy Brown—along with his bipartisan counterparts in Bastrop, Caldwell and Hays counties, CommUnityCare President and CEO Jaeson Fournier and Ascension Seton President and CEO Andy Brown—requested 50,000 vaccine doses on a weekly basis to scale up administration efforts in the region.
"Our goal is to vaccinate at least 800,000 people from all across our area by July 1, 2021. That requires roughly 50,000 vaccines a week starting in early March," they wrote. "Grocery stores, health clinics, pharmacies, and other vaccination sites will be a necessary part of this work. However, they alone will not be sufficient."
In response, the Texas Department of State Health Services allocated 3,000 doses to Ascension Seton for the drive-thru event, which Brown sees "as a test run of ramping it up at a larger location with the hope that we'll get a lot more to do more." The COTA location is "optimal," he added, because of its "turnkey availability" and proximity to the surrounding counties.
The event will build on Travis County's previous pilot drive-thru clinics, which occurred on Jan. 9 and Feb. 6. The county, in partnership with CommUnity Care and Ascension Seton, vaccinated 641 people during the first event, exceeding their goal of 600 because the pharmacy team was able to draw extra doses. The second event, which provided second doses, served 660 people. Over the course of the two events, Travis County was able to shorten the average time spent—from entering the drive-thru line to leaving after observation—from 46 minutes to 19 minutes. "It was an incredibly successful effort in terms of efficiency and safety," Brown said.
With this event approved by commissioners, county staff are working on planning. "We are working feverishly at this point to make this a success," Travis County Emergency Services Executive Chuck Brotherton said.
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Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.