UMC vaccine sign-up for ‘super seniors’ was filled in minutes
UPDATE #2: UMC said all available vaccination appointments for "Super Seniors" were reserved in the first five minutes and registration was closed as of 9:05 a.m.
However, numerous ABC-7 viewers said they found UMC's system closed and saying all appointments were taken as of 9:01 a.m.
UPDATE: University Medical Center is holding a special appointment registration Tuesday at 9 a.m. "super seniors" - those 75 years of age and older.
At that time, "super seniors" can register online at UMCelpaso.org or by calling 915-200-2700. Both the telephone number and website will close after available appointments are taken on Tuesday.
County Commissioner of Precinct 2 David Stout told ABC-7 it is necessary for El Paso to prioritize vulnerable groups to prevent more virus-related deaths.
"We really need to make sure that we are doing everything that we possibly can to keep things as equitable as possible," Stout said. "We have such a large swath of vulnerable population here in El Paso and we need to get them taken care of first because we don't want to see more death."
Stout added that phone registration options will be critical in vaccinating vulnerable groups. He said many older adults might have difficulty booking appointments online or lack access to internet.
"A lot of folks are missing out because they cant go to libraries and things like that," Stout said. "Places where typically if they don't have access in their homes they can go to some communal setting and utilize the computer pods there, like the recreation centers and the senior centers, but those are all closed."
ORIGINAL REPORT: EL PASO, Texas -- University Medical Center's 4,500 appointment slots to receive the vaccine filled up in 15 minutes on Saturday after online registration was opened with no advanced announcement.
University Medical Center said Saturday it had received another shipment of coronavirus vaccine to distribute at its vaccination mega-site at the El Paso County Coliseum.
Registration opened at Noon online at UMCelpaso.org. For the second week in a row, the hospital gave no advance notice; it sent out an alert to the media as it opened registration.
The appointment portal is for those in state vaccination categories 1A and 1B, which includes healthcare workers, first-responders, anyone 65 and older or others with certain underlying health conditions.
The UMC website will only accept registrations until all the open appointments are scheduled. After that point, the site will close access.
On prior occasions when UMC has received vaccine shipments and took registrations online, all the appointments for shots were typically filled within a matter of minutes.
A UMC spokesman has previously indicated the hospital is mindful that some elderly El Pasoans don’t have internet access to be able to sign up for an appointment online.
If you have a family member or relative 75 or older who falls in this situation, you can email UMC in the hopes that they *may* be able to accommodate them with an appointment at some point.
You can submit their/your information by emailing: comments-questions@umcelpaso.org.
In addition to UMC, the city of El Paso is also providing public vaccine distribution at a mega-site; the city site is near the airport and appointment pre-registration is available at EPCovidVaccine.com or by phoning 21-COVID (212-6843). Unlike UMC, the city site keeps a waiting list and contacts those who have signed-up when it's their turn to be vaccinated.
