The Hamilton County Health Department was forced to turn people away from its drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site after a record number of vaccine seekers quickly depleted the county’s supply Thursday morning.
Thursday marked the first time that any resident age 75 and older was eligible to receive vaccine after the Tennessee Department of Health updated its COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on Wednesday, increasing the priority for the age groups at highest risk of serious COVID-19 illness and death.
Health department officials reported administering 1,188 doses of vaccine Thursday – a “substantial increase” over prior days – before running out of their allotment from the Tennessee Department of Health at around 1:30 p.m. Those who braved the long line entering the site on Amnicola Highway waited between two and three hours to get vaccinated, officials said.
Becky Barnes, Hamilton County Health Department administrator, said via email that the department’s goal is to administer every dose of vaccine it receives, and availability is based on supply. Eligible people receive doses on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as vaccine is available.
“We will continue to deliver vaccine as long as it is in our inventory,” Barnes said. “We are constantly looking at ways to improve our logistics and will make adjustments accordingly.”