EL PASO COUNTY, Colorado (KRDO) – John Reinert, 74, knows how to handle the computer. Still, he describes the application process for a vaccine in El Paso County as daunting and frustrating.
“As an electrical engineer, yes, I am a technology specialist,” said Reinert. “I managed to find my way on all the different sites, but I know that other people my age would have a little more difficulty with the technology.”
Reinert reportedly signed up for a vaccine through each of the public health vaccine partners in El Paso County, listed on his website. He said he only got confirmation from one.
“It may not be an urgency to get to the top of the list, but at least to know that I’m on the list,” said Reinert. “Because now I don’t feel confident that I know that.”
Lisa Powell, El Paso County public health emergency preparedness and response manager, confirmed on Friday how people can get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“For all providers that you are an established patient with, they will contact you when they have the ability to provide you with the vaccine,” said Powell. “Whoever is registering has to enter the portal or call to register”.
KRDO asked El Paso County Public Health why the responsibility for enrollment lies primarily with patients.
“We were doing wrong alongside – how to put the vaccine in people’s arms about how to get an easy application process,” said Powell.
The approach prompted Reinert to sign up for alerts from the Pueblo Public Health vaccine drive-thru, only to be told he needed to be a resident of Pueblo County to get a vaccine there. He is also looking for vaccine clinics in the Denver area.
The health department said it did not rule out the possibility of a more community-based approach to immunization in the future. But for now, the county is maintaining its plan to administer vaccines through CDC-approved providers.