UPDATED: All 70-and-over vaccine slots for Southern Utah counties full through January

Stock image. | Photo by Choreograph/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Appointment slots went online for residents over 70 in Washington County to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week Monday morning, but by noon all of the spots for the next two weeks were filled. By 4 p.m., all slots throughout Southern Utah were filled through January.

Photo illustration. | Photo by Ridofranz, iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

Reservations for this week in Washington County were placed online by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department at 9 a.m. on Monday.

By noon, all of the slots for the next two weeks have been filled. The situation is the same in Iron and Kane counties.

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department opened up additional reservation slots in Garfield and Beaver counties, but as of 4 p.m. Monday, these slots have all been filled, according to a press release issued by the health department. 

“We understand how frustrating this is for many of our seniors,” David Heaton, public information officer for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, said. “We receive limited amounts of vaccine every week and are able to schedule every dose, but those slots go quickly. We ask for your patience as you check our website again next week for February openings. It will take many weeks to schedule and serve this age group.”

In addition, along with K-12 teachers and staff, St. George Regional Hospital has opened up vaccine reservations for first responders this week. Over the weekend, the hospital erected a second BLU-MED tent near the emergency room to handle additional waiting and recovery areas for the vaccinations.

The hospital’s vaccinations are utilizing excess supply from the recent immunizations of staff at the hospital. They are not performing any other vaccinations beyond K-12 staff and first responders. Work identification is required.

A large influx of traffic caused the department’s entire website to go down early Monday before the first reservations for this week in Washington County were placed online. Most of the site remains down as of noon Monday, with a temporary page put up with reservation links.

“Our website is struggling with the increased traffic. We have not posted the schedules yet. Please do not continue to refresh the page. We will share all the links in a post and on other sources not on our website once published,” a statement from the Southwest Utah Public Health Department said Monday morning. “We appreciate your patience and understanding. It may take several weeks to get through the 70-plus group, but we will get to everyone. There is no need to rush, panic, or worry.”

The reservation slots released Sunday were not for this week but for the week starting on Jan. 25. The slots went online a day before the Southwest Utah Public Health Department’s official rollout for Washington County.

A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine seen in late-December 2020. | Photo courtesy of Intermountain Healthcare, St. George News

Washington County vaccinations are being administered at the Southwest Utah Public Health Department across from the 400 East campus of St. George Regional Hospital near the St. George Temple. 

Those without email addresses or unable to make reservations online can get help starting Tuesday at a specialized hotline at 435-986-2549.

All of the other reservation slots have filled in Iron, Kane and Beaver counties. There were a few slots open for this week in Garfield County on Sunday, but those were filled by Sunday afternoon.

Local and state health officials have urged patience for those ages 70 and over as it is expected to take until the end of February to complete all of those in that age group wanting the vaccine, which is voluntary. Officials say there are around 35,000 individuals in the 70-and-over age group in Southern Utah, and currently the local health department is receiving a supply of around 4,500 doses per week.

Along with 70-and-over, nonhospital medical workers, first responders and K-12 teachers and staff are currently eligible to receive the vaccine locally. Identification is required at the vaccination sites.

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

  • Those who can currently get the vaccine: Everyone ages 70 and over. K-12 teachers and staff, those that work in nonhospital health care facilities (those in clinics, pharmacies, dentists or other medical offices) and first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs.
  • Must register in advance online for an appointment time. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
  • Must have a personal ID, employment ID and wear a short-sleeve shirt at appointment.
  • Vaccines are free of charge.
  • Those without email addresses or unable to make reservations online can get help starting Tuesday at a specialized hotline at 435-986-2549.

Washington County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department St. George office, 620 S 400 East, 2nd Floor Conference Room, St. George, 84770 and St. George Regional Hospital (K-12 staff and first responders immunizations only), 1380 E. Medical Center Dr., St. George, 84790.

When: Monday to Thursday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 25-28, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; K-12 teachers and staff-only clinics Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 7 p.m.; at Southwest Utah Public Health and on Wednesday (3 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.); K-12 teachers and staff and first responders Tuesday (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Wednesday (12 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.), Friday (1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.) at St. George Regional Hospital.

(All slots full) Register here for Monday to Friday clinics

(All slots full) Register here for Jan. 25-28 clinics

(All slots full) Register here for K-12 staff only clinics at Southwest Utah Public Health

(Friday full) Register here for K-12 staff only clinics at St. George Regional

Iron County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Cedar City office, 260 DL Sargent Dr., Cedar City, 84721.

When: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; K-12 teachers and staff-only clinics Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(All slots full) Click to register

(All slots full) Register here for K-12 staff only clinics

Kane County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Kanab office, 445 N. Main St., Kanab 84741.

When: Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(All slots full) Click to register

Garfield County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Panguitch office, 601 Center St. Panguitch 84759.

When: Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 25, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(All slots full) Click to register

Beaver County:

Where: Southwest Utah Public Health Department Beaver Office,  75 1175 North, Beaver 84713.

When: Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 26, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(All slots full) Click to register

Updated Jan. 18 at 12 p.m., All Washington County and Iron County reservations for this and next week now full. Additional reservation slots opened up for next week in Garfield and Beaver counties. The health departments are asking that people only sign up for vaccinations in the county they reside in.

Updated Jan. 18 at 5:50 p.m., All reservations are now full through the end of January.

COVID-19 information resources

St. George News has made every effort to ensure the information in this story is accurate at the time it was written. However, as the situation and science surrounding the coronavirus continues to evolve, it’s possible that some data has changed.

Check the resources below for up-to-date information and resources.

 

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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