The Hamilton County Department of Health announced changes to its COVID-19 vaccination process. The following changes will be implemented immediately:
1) The Department of Health will continue to use the Tennessee Department of Health’s phased allocation plan; however, an additional alphabetical system will be used to limit traffic at the Riverpark POD site. For example, one day it will be for AK, another day for LZ. To be admitted to the site, you must first fall into the current stage category, and in second place for the alphabet group that day. The current phase and age groups are continuously updated and can be consulted on the vaccination page of the Health Department on the Internet.
2) Traffic will be directed through the main entrance to Chattanooga State Community College. The Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and its partners will oversee this process. The intention is to reduce rear traffic on the Amnicola Highway.
3) A Department of Health screening station will check each individual’s eligibility. Make sure you meet that day’s phase and alphabetical criteria to avoid waiting in line and being refused.
4) At the screening station, eligible individuals will receive an appointment form with an individual number. The meeting forms are only delivered to the sorting station, they cannot be sent by email, mail or otherwise received in advance.
5) To ensure that no vaccines are left unused, the Ministry of Health will offer the opportunity to those who are already in line near the end of the daily distribution of meeting cards wait to see if any dose remains at the end of the day.
6) The goal of the Ministry of Health is zero vaccine waste and to monitor the doses administered as close to real time as possible.
7) Additional portable toilets have been added to the traffic queue, to include disabled access.
“We ask the community for patience while we work on the main logistical obstacles with this vaccine, as we are limited by the number of doses we receive in any shipment,” said Health Department administrator Becky Barnes. “As more vaccine becomes available to us, we will open more locations and operate for more hours.”
The POD vaccine at Riverpark will reopen on Tuesday and Wednesday, with approximately 1,000 doses of Modern vaccine per day.