Starting Monday, people as young as 16 with qualifying medical conditions can schedule a COVID-19 vaccination in Salt Lake County. (PHOTO: KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY — Starting Monday, people as young as 16 with qualifying medical conditions can schedule to get a COVID-19 vaccination in Salt Lake County.
The Salt Lake County Health Department again implemented a tiered-age system for the vaccination, after an announcement last week from Gov. Spencer Cox, which loosened restrictions. Individuals 55 and older with qualifying conditions were able to make an appointment starting Feb. 25, then the age requirement dropped by 10 years on each following day.
Beyond dropping the age requirement for individuals with certain medical conditions, the announcement also allows Utahns to receive a COVID-19 vaccine anywhere in the state, regardless of where they live.
Nicholas Rupp, of the Salt Lake County Health Department, said the new vaccination guidelines have taken a lot of pressure off the department.
“I think it’s been more beneficial for Salt Lake County residents to be able to go to say Tooele County or Davis County,” he explained.
With less of a demand, he said it has better allowed people to schedule an appointment and receive the vaccine in a timely fashion.
“Today, on Monday, we expect to have appointments available at the end of this week and into next week,” said Rupp. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
Salt Lake County has also switched their vaccine scheduling system and has started using the statewide system. It requires users to create an account, then gives them flexibility to cancel or reschedule appointments on their own.
Salt Lake Health also expects some private providers, like Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health, to have limited doses of the vaccine at some clinical locations in Salt Lake County.