With the recent announcement of more people being able to get a COVID-19 vaccine and adding a third type of vaccine, the timeline for general public vaccinations is getting closer. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says the general public can potentially expect to be vaccinated sooner than they think. 

“We anticipate that by May everyone will be eligible, according to President (Joe) Biden, and that by summer vaccines will be available for anyone who wants to be vaccinated.”

 Cochran says there is hope that sometime this summer there may be more normalcy than what there currently is. 

“They are hoping by the Fourth of July we’ll be able to gather at least in small groups of people that you know to be either vaccinated or everyone has a mask on.”

Cochran notes the ability to gather in the near future depends on people being willing to participate in being vaccinated and lowering the risk now as opposed to later.