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PASSEDHarris County Commissioners Court · 2026-08-25

The county is approving purchases of vaccines from three pharmaceutical companies—Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi—for the Refugee Health Screening Program, bypassing competitive bidding under a public health or safety exemption, for the period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What it means for you

Refugees receiving health screenings through Harris County Public Health Services will have access to vaccines funded by a federal grant, up to $1,600,000.

Outcome

A motion was made by Commissioner Ramsey, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, that this item be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: (4-0)

How each member voted

Lina Hidalgo (County Judge): AbsentRodney Ellis (Commissioner, Precinct 1): AyeAdrian Garcia (Commissioner, Precinct 2): AyeTom S. Ramsey (Commissioner, Precinct 3): AyeLesley Briones (Commissioner, Precinct 4): Aye

4–0, per the official record.

Health — see all →Harris County

Official source

Official meeting record — Harris County Legistar ↗

The record includes an individually-attributed vote for this item, shown above.

District A — Amy PeckADistrict B — Tarsha JacksonBDistrict C — Joe PanzarellaCDistrict D — Carolyn Evans-ShabazzDDistrict E — Fred FlickingerEDistrict F — Tiffany ThomasFDistrict G — Mary Nan HuffmanGDistrict H — Mario CastilloHDistrict I — Joaquin MartinezIDistrict J — Edward PollardJDistrict K — Martha Castex-TatumK

Official council district boundaries · City of Houston GIS. Tap a district to see who represents it.

Quick answersfrom the official record
Who receives?Merck & Co., Inc. d/b/a Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; GlaxoSmithKline Holdings (Americas) Inc. d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline LLC; and Sanofi Vaccines US Inc.Legistar record ↗
Who gives?grant funds provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Refugee Medical Assistance ProgramLegistar record ↗
Who decides?Decided by a vote of the Harris County Commissioners Court. Public Health Services brought it forward. Taken up at the August 25, 2026 meeting — Adopted.Legistar record ↗
The official caption doesn't name a dollar amount — full details in the official Legistar record ↗

Cite this: https://plaindocket.com/item/real-hc26-5542-195730 — data from official records via PlainDocket.

The county is approving purchases of vaccines from three pharmaceutical companies—Merck… — PlainDocket