By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - More than 250,000 people have signed up for a coronavirus vaccination on Nebraska's official registration website, but state officials said Wednesday they want more and urged residents to add their names.
State officials asked residents to sign up online or through a toll-free hotline as local health districts prepare to move into their next vaccination phase in the next few weeks.
The state is currently working to vaccinate residents who are at least 65 years and older, but the next phase will focus on people ages 50 to 64 and those with certain underlying health conditions.
Lori Snyder, chief information officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said registering on the state's website, vaccinate.ne.gov, will allow residents to get their shot faster than if they signed up on a local public health department's website. Residents without internet access can register by calling 833-998-2275.
"You can literally be in and out of a clinic in, like, 17 to 20 minutes," she said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts. "Not every clinic is like that, but we have achieved those kinds of timeframes when people registered ahead of time."
Snyder said the number of residents signed up so far "is great, but we also want to make sure we don't miss anyone."
She said the local public health websites that initially offered signups didn't request all the information needed to track patients, and without that information, residents who visit a clinic to get a shot will have to take extra time to provide it. The local registration websites are now being folded into the state-run vaccination site.
Snyder said those without internet or phone access should work with a friend, relative or neighbor to enroll.
Nebraska has fully vaccinated 12.6% of of the 1.48 million residents who are at least 16 years old, according to the state's online tracking portal. Ricketts has said he expects vaccines will be offered to the general public by late April or early May.
The state has received 575,310 vaccination doses through its own program plus another 125,835 through the federal retail pharmacy program, which offers vaccinations through Walmart and other pharmacies.
Nebraska had 131 people who were hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday evening, which is down sharply from the record highs of nearly 1,000 in mid-November, according to the state's online tracking portal. The state has confirmed 203,587 virus cases and 2,120 deaths since the pandemic began. The vast majority of those who have died were older than 65 years old.