The Hamilton County Health Department has noticed a sharp increase in the number of people not showing up for their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Walker
“We’re averaging as many as 50 no-shows a day,” said Christian Walker, the health department’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. “Unfortunately, that puts us in a bad position as we don’t want to risk losing a dose because we opened a vial and don’t have an arm to put it in.”
As more clinics open, people are finding ways to get their vaccine sooner. Unfortunately, the only way to cancel an appointment is by calling 2-1-1, which can lead to long wait times. As a result, volunteers for the health department have taken to calling those on the schedule each day to confirm their appointments, but that has proven time consuming.
“We’re hoping this hotline will make cancelling an appointment much less time consuming,” Walker said. “And we’re hoping those who need to make a cancellation will take the time to do so, so we can ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine gets one.”
Clients should expect a call from (317) 776-2585 or a text from 78015 the week prior to their appointment. If they need to talk to a person, they can leave a voicemail with their name, date of birth, phone number, and appointment date at (317) 776-8566.