SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Local health officials say some people are looking for a COVID-19 vaccine, despite not meeting state requirements.
Health officials resort to waiting list
These individuals, who often travel from county to county in search of a vaccine, are being called “vaccine hunters”.
Diane Rindlisbacher, leader of the Intermountain Healthcare System for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration, said the demand among residents eligible to be vaccinated has been so high that they rarely need to worry about taking extra injections. Although in the rare cases where this happens, they have protocols to follow.
“We have a contingency plan, and most other locations do, where you have a waiting list or call list,” she explains.
For example, she said extra doses were left after a recent vaccination clinic in Utah County. Health leaders at the scene started calling people on the waiting list and many showed up in half an hour.
According to Rindlisbacher, many of the “vaccine hunters” are close to qualifying for a vaccine and are wondering if they can make a leap in the process.
“Most of what we see are individuals coming with their spouses who are eligible and simply asking what the possibility is, because they heard that the age is going to change,” she explains.
Over 600,000 vaccines administered in Utah
According to the Utah Department of Health, more than 600,000 vaccinations against coronavirus have been administered in the state.
This came after authorities reported another 701 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, with 10 residents dying from complications from the virus.
The deaths bring the total number of Utahns lost to the COVID-19 to 1,852. This figure represents people who died specifically because of the effects of coronavirus disease.
The seven-day continuous average for positive tests is 777 per day. The current number of people hospitalized for the virus is 241.
How to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronavirus transmitted from person to person. It is a virus similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a mask.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Keep children and people with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this case, at least six feet)
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social detachment (stay at home instead of going to the cinema, sporting events or other activities).
- Get a flu shot.
Local resources
KSL Coronavirus Q&A
Utah Coronavirus Information
Utah State Council of Education
Utah Hospital Association
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions, World Health Organization
Cases in the United States