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Delaware ends COVID vaccine wait list
Vaccination events across the state are now open to walk-in traffic with no waiting list. FILE PHOTO
May 9, 2021
The Delaware Division of Public Health closed its COVID-19 vaccination wait list to new sign-ups May 7, focusing on providing the public with information about available vaccination opportunities throughout the state.
The wait list, which opened Jan. 20, was used to prioritize vaccinations based on age and health conditions. However, officials said, they have repeatedly reached out to many people on the waiting list, and only a few have made appointments, indicating that those remaining likely have been vaccinated elsewhere.
“The wait list was a critical tool for allowing us to assess demand for vaccine and to match limited doses with those most at risk from COVID-19,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Now that we are in a situation of more plentiful vaccine and open eligibility, we no longer need to screen and prioritize invitations to appointments, and we can focus on letting people know the multiple ways they can get vaccinated with or without an appointment.”
Last week, DPH revamped de.gov/getmyvaccine to include appointment and walk-in information for pharmacies, medical providers, hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, public health clinics, and Curative clinics. Individuals may also call the DPH Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-643-1715 (option 3) for assistance in locating vaccine sites.
From Jan. 20 to May 6, more than 200,000 people signed up on the wait list. The DPH Office of Emergency Medical Services, which coordinated drive-through and other large vaccination events, administered about 100,000 vaccinations to people on the wait list. Curative, a state vaccinating partner operating at Delaware Technical Community College campuses, also used the wait list and administered more than 55,000 vaccines.
As of May 6, more than 785,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the state. About 54 percent of Delaware residents ages 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 40 percent have been fully vaccinated.
