Baptist Health has provided the Kentucky Department of Health with an online vaccination tool that can be linked to the state’s vaccine website for health workers, Kit Fullenlove Barry, Baptist Health Liaison Manager, said in a statement to CNN on Monday. said.
The state website linked to a page outlining that vaccines are available to healthcare professionals as part of phase 1a of vaccination of the vaccine. However, the information was not included in the scheduling tool.
“As a result, many who have seen the site mistakenly thought the vaccines were open to the general public, although we do not know how many people have registered who may not be eligible at this stage,” Fullenlove Barry said in the statement.
Baptist Health websites have about 6,000 vaccination appointments scheduled for the next two weeks and the calendar is full. At the moment no additional appointments are accepted.
Appointments made through the online system are still being followed to ensure that those who are eligible receive a vaccine in a timely manner.
“We continue to seek the help of the community to ensure that these vaccines first reach the health personnel of our Commonwealth so that we can continue with the necessary care,” the statement said.
“Baptist Health is working to cancel a smooth process for those who accidentally planned a vaccination appointment, and will contact the 6,000 people who registered for these appointments to provide the opportunity.”
Baptist Health has said it will continue to work with the state on deploying vaccines.
“We deplore the confusion caused by our communities and have updated the scheduling tool with the additional information.”
Kentucky is in the first phase of vaccinations, which includes health care workers and those living in long-term and assisted living facilities. According to figures updated by the Department of Health on Monday, the state administered 130,355 vaccine doses. Kentucky received 169,350 doses for the state vaccination program and 93,600 doses designated for long-term care facilities.
CNN reached out to the Kentucky Department of Health for comment and received no response yet.