The Allegheny County Health Department said that, starting at noon Thursday, call-takers at 211 would provide phone support for scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments.Not long afterward, the county said it was getting reports that calls couldn’t be completed as 211 lines were overrun due to high demand for the coronavirus vaccine.Video above: 211 caller can’t get through to set up vaccine appointmentThe health department had announced that 750 slots would be available for the next two weeks at its vaccine Point of Dispensing location at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville.Late Thursday afternoon, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said, “We have just received word that based on the number of calls and appointments made and the number of callers in queue with 211 that there are no more appointments available. As of 3:45 p.m., 211 will be unable to accept further calls for appointments.”She added, “We are aware of reports of callers to 211 being instead intercepted by individuals asking for credit card information or for gift cards to be sent to them in order to have an appointment made. The phone carriers are investigating this and we will share any information that we can relative to that investigation as soon as it is available.”The phone support comes as the health department has expanded its partnership with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.The health department said public notice will be provided and phone scheduling will end once appointments are filled.Per their news release, the 211 line is only for scheduled appointments for people who are 65 and older and only for the Monroeville location. It’s intended to help people without internet access.
The Allegheny County Health Department said that, starting at noon Thursday, call-takers at 211 would provide phone support for scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Not long afterward, the county said it was getting reports that calls couldn’t be completed as 211 lines were overrun due to high demand for the coronavirus vaccine.
Video above: 211 caller can’t get through to set up vaccine appointment
The health department had announced that 750 slots would be available for the next two weeks at its vaccine Point of Dispensing location at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville.
Late Thursday afternoon, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said, “We have just received word that based on the number of calls and appointments made and the number of callers in queue with 211 that there are no more appointments available. As of 3:45 p.m., 211 will be unable to accept further calls for appointments.”
She added, “We are aware of reports of callers to 211 being instead intercepted by individuals asking for credit card information or for gift cards to be sent to them in order to have an appointment made. The phone carriers are investigating this and we will share any information that we can relative to that investigation as soon as it is available.”
The phone support comes as the health department has expanded its partnership with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
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The health department said public notice will be provided and phone scheduling will end once appointments are filled.
Per their news release, the 211 line is only for scheduled appointments for people who are 65 and older and only for the Monroeville location. It’s intended to help people without internet access.