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Coronavirus in Texas

Up for the task: Younger Texans are helping older family members get COVID-19 vaccine

Jackie Tidwell, a sixth-generation Texan living in Seattle, made it her mission to get her 90-year-old grandfather in Corpus Christi vaccinated for COVID-19 and hopes others “have persistent grandkids like me.” Listen, in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

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Jackie Tidwell made it her mission to get her grandfather, retired Cmdr. David Gallegos Jr., in Corpus Christi vaccinated for COVID-19.

Jackie Tidwell is among a growing number of adult children and grandchildren helping older family members get access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Tidwell, a content designer for a major tech company in Seattle, made it her mission to get her 90-year-old grandfather in Corpus Christi vaccinated all the way from her home 2,300 miles away.

But, after attempting to navigate the local sign-up portal, ultimately all it took was a phone call to get retired Cmdr. David Gallegos Jr. — whom Tidwell adoringly calls “Pops” — the information he needed to get his first dose.

Listen, in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

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Clarification: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Jackie Tidwell worked as a web content designer. She works with software designers for a major tech company in Seattle.

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