State officials initially intended to schedule vaccination schedules through an application from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but then hired Microsoft to build an application from scratch after discovering that CDC technology did not meet Oklahoma’s needs. The launch of the application was also delayed by a few days, as the vaccination location sites had to be entered into the system.
Ensuring equal access to vaccines, even for those who are not technologically skilled or for those without internet access, is a challenge, Reed said. Those who are faster at drawing lots and are able to register online earlier will receive the vaccine sooner.
“It’s a legitimate concern,” he said. “It’s something we keep working on every day. Honestly, this whole process … will be a very difficult process, it will be a long process and there will be a lot of challenges. “
Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said he hopes Oklahoma will receive more COVID-19 vaccines in the near future so more people can be vaccinated.
As of January 1, Oklahoma had received 174,900 doses of vaccine and administered 50,330 of those doses, according to state data. The remaining doses have already been allocated.
“We want to get this vaccine out as soon as we can,” Frye said. “We will try to make it available to everyone and we will continue to work until we get there. Unfortunately, at present, our offer is not as robust as we would like it to be. “
Most Oklahomans who receive a COVID-19 vaccine through a county health department will receive the Moderna vaccine. The Moderna vaccine consists of two doses given 28 days apart.
Also included in Phase 2 of the state vaccination plan are adults of all ages with serious medical conditions, K-12 teachers and support staff, and staff and residents of assembled locations, such as prisons, jails, and homeless shelters. These groups are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines at this time.