CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Despite hardline rules from the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan, some in Montgomery County who don’t fall under the set criteria are already getting vaccinated, creating confusion about how and when people sign up to get the vaccine.
Clarksville Now has received several reports of people who registered through a sign-up page receiving the vaccine over the weekend or Monday, despite not falling in either category mandated by the Tennessee Department of Health.
Anita Smith, 73, said that in trying to register her 75-year-old husband, Wayne, for a vaccination, she was unable to get through to the Montgomery County Health Department using the appointment number, 931-648-5747.
However, Smith said one of her friends who is much younger than her signed up last week through the webpage that was circulating from the Health Department. Smith said her friend received the vaccine Monday.
“I’m just frustrated because I can’t get through (to the Health Department), and I feel a little bit like I landed at Walmart on Black Friday, and people are snatching and grabbing to get something. This time, it’s a vaccine,” Smith said.
“If you’re going to make a rule, then you need to follow that rule so people are not confused. And there’s a lot of us out here who are confused,” Smith said.
Health Department responds
Lisa Rodriguez, one of the supervisors at the Civitan Park COVID-19 testing and vaccination outpost, said the sign-up page that circulated initially only for health care workers does in fact work for those who are not in the current phase’s criteria.
“Other people are able to register if they actually go on (the sign-up page), but obviously there are age restrictions first of all, which we’ve had a few of those come through today who registered but of course they weren’t old enough to get it, so they were sent out. Their name may show up on the list, but we also verify before we give the vaccine, too,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said some may be receiving the vaccine without falling into the state’s criteria because of canceled appointments and the need to quickly distribute the vaccine, which lasts only 12 hours at room temperature before it goes bad, according to the CDC’s website concerning the Moderna vaccine.
“At the end of the day, like right now, we have two vaccines left. And so when people come up here at the last second and say that they’re not necessarily in that 75 category or an EMS or frontline worker, we would rather give it to those people than waste it,” Rodriguez said.
Line jumping is happening
The Health Department admits there are people taking advantage of the sign-up page gaffe.
“There’s no official line-jumping that we are sanctioning, but is it happening? Yes, because like I said, that link went out to people it wasn’t supposed to, and so a lot of people are going on and registering who shouldn’t be at this point,” she said.
However, Rodriguez said those 75 and older or qualify as frontline workers can now use the site to sign up for appointments.
While no agency has released the website address, Clarksville Now is sharing it because it is already in circulation among people using it to make appointments: www.signupgenius.com/go/montgomery_county_covid_vaccination. It should be used only for health care workers and those 75 and older.
However, the site shows all available slots are currently full.
To make an appointment for a vaccine, residents 75 and older should call 931-648-5747. Some have had success making appointments by email to HealthDept@mcgtn.net.