County Mayor Jim Coppinger said Wednesday that it has been over eight days since Hamilton County received a shipment of COVID-19 vaccine.
He said, "We keep asking and requesting - just like everyone else in the state and around the country is."
County Mayor Coppinger said, "There is talk of releasing 40 million doses soon."
He said the county will be going on an appointment system for giving the doses, though he said, "There will still be a jam. It won't be a traffic jam, but a phone and computer jam."
He said when the county does get another shipment it will be ready "with multiple sites and real creative ways" to administer the vaccine.
One new step will be "strike teams that will go out to vulnerable populations."
Becky Barnes, Health Department administrator, said county Emergency Management is preparing an online appointment system that will be rolled out soon.
She said those who earlier received doses will get a second dose next week. She said details are to be released later this week.
Hamilton County has received 6,575 doses of vaccine and administered 6,476 doses.
She said the vaccination program was working early on until the category of 75 years or older was added and that brought a flood of persons seeking the vaccine.
She stated, "We are completely rebuilding our delivery system and we will keep rebuilding it until we get it right."
She said Dr. Paul Hendricks has retired after a year as county medical director and Dr. Fernando Urrego is serving in the interim.
Ms. Barnes said former medical director Dr. Valerie Boaz is back on the job involved in helping reach vulnerable populations with the vaccine.