Local

Waitlisted: Local counties face backlog of vaccine appointments

By Genevieve Curtis, wsoctv.com
By Genevieve Curtis, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE — Thousands of people across the Charlotte area are waiting for a call to get their vaccine.

Channel 9 found there are more than 37,000 people on waitlists from health departments in several local counties that offer a waitlist option.

Gaston County has more than 12,000 waiting, but the health department just learned it will only be getting 600 doses from the state each week for the next three weeks. For now, they can’t offer any new appointments for those waiting.

[Here’s everything you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine in North Carolina]

“When you add the stress and the competition ... to this for people trying to get a vaccine, it makes it harder for us to roll it out in an equitable way,” said Brittain Kenney, assistant health director for Gaston County.

It’s a similar story in many other local counties. Earlier this week, health departments saw their vaccine shipments reduced and sent to mega vaccine clinic sites.

North Carolina state health officials said it is part of a strategy to increase the amount of vaccines the state gets from the federal government, which would increase the amount the state can send to counties, particularly in rural counties most impacted by the change.

Counties learned on Thursday how many vaccine doses they will receive weekly for the next three weeks.

  • Anson County: 100
  • Lincoln County: 200
  • Rowan County: 300
  • Union County: 500
  • Cabarrus County: 900

In the meantime, thousands are waiting.

Some health departments don’t have a waitlist, but those that do said here’s how many people are on their lists:

  • Alexander County: 3,000
  • Anson County: 1,200
  • Cabarrus County: 5,500
  • Caldwell County: 9,800
  • Gaston County: 12,000
  • Lincoln County: 100
  • Union County: 5,400

Residents don’t have to register in the county where they live.

“People are getting on many waitlists. They are putting their name in every path they can because people really want this vaccine,” Kenney said.

Every county is approaching its waitlists differently.

In Cabarrus County, the list is used to fill no-show and same-day canceled appointments on a clinic day.

Gaston County is prioritizing people on the list who are 75 and older.

SC working to get those who don’t use internet registered for vaccine appointments

Cox Media Group

Most Read