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0000017b-652b-d50a-a3ff-f7efb02e0000KPCW's COVID-19 news coverage for Summit County and Wasatch County, Utah. 0000017b-652b-d50a-a3ff-f7efb02f0000You can also visit the Utah Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization websites for additional information.

Wasatch County Vaccine Rollout Going 'Very Smoothly'

Wasatch County Health Department

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opened up to all Utahns 16 years-or-older last week. KPCW checked in with the Wasatch County Health Department to get the latest on the county’s vaccine rollout.

Almost 10,300 residents in Wasatch County have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Of the 15,680 vaccines delivered to the county, they have administered 16,187 doses, as of Saturday. Jonelle Fitzgerald with the county health department said that’s because the vaccine rollout has been going "very smoothly." 

"We've actually been able to utilize all the doses that the state has given us every week, and we've even accepted additional doses if another district can't use them," Fitgerald said.

Even though Wasatch County has seen demand for the vaccine, Summit County has administered nearly twice as many total doses. 

Fitzgerald said Summit’s numbers are partially driven by more vaccine locations throughout the county. 

"Park City Hospital is actually designated as the Wasatch Back provider and so there's a lot of vaccine going to the hospital there to provide vaccine, but our hospital here in wasatch county doesn't have any," she said. "So we we've been the sole provider except for some pharmacies that are just starting to come online.

She said while demand is still strong, the county has seen that some residents have concerns about the vaccine. 

"When we post online there's been comments and questions - people calling in with questions-  about vaccine safety and all of that," she said. "Obviously throughout the pandemic we've had a lot of people with varying opinions and very strong opinions. I guess we would just encourage people to look and do some research but also look for reputable sources for information."

She said once everyone has access to a vaccine who wants one, they will continue to find different avenues to educate people on the fence about inoculations. 

"That's not something, we want to force," she said. "We want people to be comfortable with it. But we also want to help them to access good information. So we actually do work with providers and health professionals, who can provide some medical background, and also have some real experience with the vaccine and vaccine production and understand how that all works. And we think that our community has good respect for those providers and doctors that they've interacted with throughout their lives." 

Wasatch County Health Department is vaccinating people at the county event complex, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Fitzgerald said there are unfilled appointments this week, and she said residents from other counties are welcome to make an appointment in Wasatch. 

People 18 years or older can make an appointment by visiting coronavirus.wasatch.utah.gov/vaccine or by calling 435-657-3276.

 

Jessica joins KPCW as a general assignment reporter and Sunday Weekend Edition host. A Florida native, she graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in English — concentrating in film studies — and journalism. Before moving to Utah, she spent time in Atlanta, GA.
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