State pushes to cancel appointments after 7,200 people with no qualifying conditions are able to schedule shots



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Utah reports 22 new deaths from COVID-19, 686 new cases and an issue in vaccination records.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kenley Hansen gets vaccinated against Kirsten Weber’s COVID-19, as residents of Utah County line up for their shots at a former Shopko store in Spanish Fork, the Wednesday 27 January 2021.

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Utahns who are not in the currently designated high-risk groups for vaccines and who were able to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination through the state’s website will now have those appointments canceled.

Officials learned on Saturday that there was an issue in the state’s process that allowed some residents to register even if they were not 65 or older or had a qualifying health condition.

According to a statement Saturday night from Tom Hudachko, communications director for the Utah Department of Health, approximately 7,200 people who did not meet the eligibility criteria were able to make appointments.

“These appointments will be canceled over the next 24 hours, and email notifications will be sent to each person whose appointment has been canceled,” the statement said. “Several hundred people, after learning about the mistake on social media, have already canceled their appointments on their own.

“If someone feels that their appointment was canceled in error, they should contact the local health department where they scheduled their appointment, or try to schedule it again online.”

People who went directly to the state’s vaccination site, filled out the form, and answered questions honestly – even though they did not have a qualifying medical condition – were able to get appointments available, said the Salt Lake County Department of Health in a statement Saturday afternoon. .

“We ask the public to refrain from making appointments if they do not have an eligible medical condition,” the statement said. “We are asking them to cancel this appointment so that a person at higher risk can take it and receive the vaccine.”

Those who visit the Salt Lake County Department of Health website must “certify” that they have a qualifying medical condition. These conditions are listed on this same page.
“If they answer this question honestly and honestly and check the box certifying that they are doing so,” the statement read, “then they will be directed to the state vaccination site and can create an account (if they do not already have one) and get an appointment available. “

People who meet the state qualification can keep their appointments.

The vaccination problem came on a day when the number of COVID-19 cases in Utah fell below four digits, with 686 cases reported on Saturday. This marks two weeks when the daily number of cases is less than 1,000.

The state recorded 22 new deaths from the virus, however, 12 men and 10 women. Nineteen of those deaths occurred before February 6, the Utah Department of Health said.

Vaccinations given the previous day / total vaccinations • 19 757/702 293.

Number of Utahn who received two doses • 249,398.

Cases reported the day before • 686.

Deaths reported the day before • 22.

• Seven from Salt Lake County, two men aged 65 to 84; and five women between 65 and 84 years old.

• Four from Washington County, a man and a woman, both over the age of 85; two men between 65 and 84 years old.

• Three from Utah County, a man over 85; and two women between 65 and 84 years old.

• Two from Beaver County, a man over 85 and a man aged 65 to 84

• Two from Emery County, a woman over 85; and a man between 65 and 84 years old.

• Two from Weber County, two men between 45 and 64 years old.

• One from Cache County, a woman between 65 and 84 years old

• One from Davis County, male between 65 and 84 years old.

Hospitalizations reported the day before • 223, eight less than Friday. Of those currently hospitalized, 89 are in intensive care units – five fewer than Friday.

Tests reported the day before • 6,752 people were tested for the first time. A total of 17,724 people were tested.

Percentage of positive tests • Under the state’s original method, the seven-day moving average is 12.2%.

The state’s new method counts all test results, including repeat testing of the same individual. The seven-day moving average is now 5.5%.

[Read more: Utah is changing how it measures the rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Here’s what that means.]

Totals to date • 370,770 cases; 1,929 deaths; 14,664 hospitalizations; 3,798,843 people tested.

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