Singing River hospital gets 975 doses of COVID vaccine. Hours later, no more appointments left.
Singing River Health System has received 975 doses of vaccines to protect against COVID-19 and reopened its COVID Vaccine Hotline for appointments Monday morning.
So many people called the hotline at 228-809-5555 that by Monday afternoon, the appointments for the shots at Singing River Hospital Gulfport were completely scheduled.
People must have an appointment to get vaccinated, said Sarah Duffey, media relations director for Singing River.
Those who are eligible to get the vaccine through Singing River are only those who are 65 or older or for those who are age 64 and under and have one of the following health conditions and proof of condition:
- chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- heart condition
- obesity
- impaired immune system
- cancer
- diabetes
The hospital will post updates on its Facebook page and its COVID-19 website, DoWhatItTakes.org.
Mississippi will have about 15,000 additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week compared to last week — on top of the 37,000 doses from the federal government — and will share it with hospitals and clinics across the state, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Friday.
Coastal Family Health
Coastal Family Health received more vaccine this week that will cover second doses, said Emily Burke, director of communications. Those will start around Feb. 10 and be at the same locations where people received their first doses.
Some of the Moderna doses will be used to vaccinate those on the waiting list of more than 1,500 people who signed up for the first vaccination, she said.
Coastal Family Health is working to get vaccine to the areas where it is most needed, she said, and where residents may not have transportation to travel to another site.
And for those still waiting for an appointment, the agency established a new call center line specifically related to COVID-19 vaccine and testing.
The phone number is 888-363-8701.
“You can call now and get on the (waiting) list,” Burke said. It’s also the number to call to get test for the coronavirus.
Mississippi Health Department
No appointments for first doses of vaccine are available at this time through the Mississippi State Department of Health, according to the website. When appointments become available, those who are eligible can schedule a date at COVIDvaccine.umc.edu or call the COVID-19 call center at 1-877-978-6453.
The Sun Herald will update this article as more details become available.
This story was originally published February 1, 2021 at 11:45 AM.
