Raleigh, North Carolina – Wake County is asking for patience as seniors try to access the COVID-19 vaccine waiting list on Tuesday.
At 8:30 a.m., a phone line and a website were launched that allows Wake County residents 65 and older to join a waiting list for a coronavirus vaccine. Minutes later, WRAL viewers were already reporting problems.
Coronavirus vaccines in NC
One person who called said the phone number was playing a message saying the line was disconnected and dozens of others could not load the web tool.
Wake County spokeswoman Stacy Beard said hundreds of thousands of people visited the website within seconds of each other, prompting it to crash.
“The big volume is immense,” he said.
Staff said seniors may have to wait, but will have a chance to sign up for the vaccine. Wake leaders created the waiting list system so people wouldn’t have to wait in line to get a vaccine. Instead, once people join the waiting list, they will receive a call when a vaccination appointment is available.
“We’ve done everything we can to create a system that’s easy to use and perfect,” said Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria.
If you qualify for a vaccine, you can register on the waiting list by calling 919-250-1515 or online at wakegov.com/vaccine. Staff call for patience, as large volumes of traffic can cause technical difficulties.
Callers will be asked if they are eligible, if they have a primary care physician, and by their name, phone number, and email address. They will then be added to the Wake County COVID-19 vaccine waiting list.
“It’s not a first-class arrival system. We’re prioritizing the people who need it most. If you’re 75 or older, we give you priority. We also prioritize people who were before [Phase] Qualification 1A, ”Calabria said.
Phase 1A included health care workers treating COVID-19 patients and residents and long-term care center staff. North Carolina recently reworked the list of vaccination priorities and ended with the designation of Phase 1A.
As the county gets dosed, those on the waiting list will receive a notification by phone, email, or text message, and then have the opportunity to schedule an appointment, by phone or online.
“We have worked with a private company to help us absorb much of the call traffic,” Calabria said. “We are doing the best we can to manage capacity through these private-public partnerships to manage call traffic. We’ll see. [Tuesday] how things are going, but we are as optimistic and prepared as we can be. “
Officials hope to avoid problems reported at vaccination sites in other counties.
“We want to avoid what we’ve seen in some other places with long rows surrounded by buildings and risks created, especially for seniors,” he said.
Calabria said now is not the time to register for Wake County residents who do not belong to the two categories eligible for the waiting list. Officials said they already anticipate a large volume of calls and online applications.