PROVO – Two health departments in Utah warn that they are no longer eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and that supply exceeds current demand.
“In Utah County, we definitely feel it’s slowing down,” said Utah County Department of Health spokeswoman Aislynn Tolman-Hill. “It seems like every day is more of a slowdown to see 70s and older population signing up for appointments.”
Utah County Department of Health employees worked Friday to fill vacancies. Utah Valley Hospital even lifted the residency requirement and did not require an appointment.
“Everyone we get is one less who has to sign up,” Tolman-Hill said. “So this is something we are definitely worried about between March 1 and until that time that we are going into the next priority population.”
From March, Utah is expected to enable those 65 and older to get the vaccine.
“We would be absolutely ready to move on to the next priority group soon if they allow us,” said Joshua Greer, spokesman for the Bear River Department of Health. “We’re up to that point.”
VIDEO: “We have 200, 300 people who did not show up for the clinic.”
The Bear River Department of Health had to work quickly to recruit people for the # COVID-19#Vaccine after hundreds did not show up for appointments earlier in the week.
FULL STORY is next in line @ KSL5TV at 18:00 @kslnewsradiopic.twitter.com/Ob3DbMJy21
– Ladd Egan (@laddegan) 13 February 2021
In addition to Utah County, the Bear River Department of Health, which covers three counties in the northern part of the state, also had a difficult time filling appointments.
“Our appointments the last week of February have not yet been filled,” Greer said. “So we’re in the same boat that Utah County is in.”
On Friday, the Bear River Department of Health had to work quickly to find people who would come to the vaccination clinic after hundreds did not show up for appointments earlier in the week.
“We have all this vaccine out of the freezer,” Greer said. “It must be used this week so that it does not go to waste.”
To fill appointments for the coming weeks, both health departments hope the public will help spread the message to those 70 and older that getting the vaccine has never been so easy.
“It’s getting harder and harder to find people in the category to sign up and to take the doses,” Greer said.
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Ladd Egan