Mount Nittany Health on Wednesday launched a new waitlist for eligible community members to sign up for a future COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
To be added to the waitlist, community members eligible in the state’s phase 1A distribution plan can go to mountnittany.org/coronavirus, click on “Join the waitlist,” and complete the form. Mount Nittany will then contact them with their appointment date and time when it becomes available.
For individuals who do not have reliable internet access or who are not comfortable using a computer, a phone number will be made available later this week that they can use to add themselves to the waitlist.
Mount Nittany also is continuing to reach out directly with appointment information to high-risk, vulnerable patients in its care.
The State College-based health system schedules appointments as supplies are available. Previously, community members needed to visit the website on Tuesday afternoons to try to schedule an appointment, after Mount Nittany confirmed much vaccine it would be receiving from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Demand has been high, with about 10 times more people accessing the site than appointments available, Mount Nittany officials have said.
Individuals do not have to be Mount Nittany Health patients to sign up for the waitlist. Pennsylvania’s phase 1A eligibility was expanded in January to include all residents 65 and older and those ages 16 to 64 with certain high-risk medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus.
The largest single provider of COVID-19 vaccinations in Centre County, Mount Nittany has so far administered more than 10,000 doses and scheduled more than 8,000 additional appointments.
“With vaccine demand greater than the current available supply, the health system appreciates the community’s patience and understanding that this process will take time, and asks that everyone please continue to keep themselves and the community safe by avoiding large gatherings, social distancing, wearing a mask and frequent hand washing,” a Mount Nittany Health statement said.
A total of 19,678 people in Centre County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 4,719 who are fully covered with both required doses, according to health department data.
