Chesco Health Department Launches New Vax Registration System

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A new registration system is in place in Chester County for COVID-19 vaccine signup.

Chester County residents and workers who registered for a vaccine with the Chester County Health Department, but have since gotten a COVID-19 vaccination elsewhere, can now let the county know they're vaccinated to make room for others. Those still unregistered can create accounts more easily, the county said on Monday.

The Chester County Health Department said it has enabled its registration system to let vaccine appointment registrants remove their names from the list.

"All in Phase 1A registered with the Health Department will receive an email in the next 24 hours with details of the new registration system, and an invitation to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine," the health department announced Monday.

The health department said the new system will help everyone who has already registered with the county health department to easily book a vaccine appointment and will ensure appointments are allocated specifically to the individuals who are being contacted.

An email sent out Monday to all Phase 1A individuals currently registered with the Chester County Health Department explained the new registration system and invited them to set a password and schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The health department said on Monday that the email may take up to 24 hours to appear in the inbox of everyone in Phase 1A.

"Per the directive from the PA Department of Health, to provide an opportunity for everyone in Phase 1A to be given an appointment date by the end of March, Chester County is opening up appointments for all of our Phase 1A individuals," said Jeanne Franklin, Director of the Chester County Health Department.

"Based on the current amount of vaccine that we are receiving from the State, we have opened up 12 weeks' worth of appointments in the system to allow more than 88,000 people to schedule an appointment.

"Should we receive an increase in doses from the State – which we apply for every week – we are fully prepared to increase our weekly vaccine clinic capacity and ‘speed up’ the appointment process," Franklin added.

Information on every person who has registered with the Chester County Health Department has been moved over to the new registration system, with each person’s "place in line" preserved.

All who registered using the same email address will be able to manage members of their family through a “manage household” feature in the system, the health department said.

Importantly, the new vaccine scheduling system also allows anyone who has already received the COVID-19 vaccine to remove their name from the Health Department’s waiting list with the click of a button.

"As we notify everyone about this new system, we also provide instructions on how someone can take their name off the registration list if they have received the vaccine elsewhere, which helps us to keep an accurate record of exactly how many people are still waiting to be vaccinated," said Franklin.

Phase 1B Can Register But Appointments Are Still In 1A

People in Phases 1B and 1C may feel forgotten as the vaccine rollout has seemed stuck in Phase 1A. Chester County Health Department told those waiting at the back of the line to look for notification later this week.

"Later this week, email notification of the new vaccine scheduling system will be sent to all individuals in Phases 1B, 1C and 2 who have registered for the COVID-19 vaccine with the Chester County Health Department," a news release said.

This email will include instructions to create a password that will keep the account — and therefore the registrant's future invitation to book a vaccine appointment — personal to them.

Vaccine appointments are not yet being opened for individuals in these phases, the health department said on Monday.

While the new system for scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment online is very simple, the option to book an appointment via the Chester County Health Department’s call center is also an option, once someone receives the invitation to book.

The call center can currently schedule an appointment over the phone for anyone in Phase 1A who does not have access to a computer or who is uncomfortable using the new system. That number is 610-344-6225.

The Chester County Health Department currently has vaccine clinics at the County’s Government Services Center, West Chester University’s Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center, Kennett Square Fire Company’s Red Clay Room, Kimberton Fire Company, and senior centers in Phoenixville, Coatesville, and Oxford.

A clinic also opened at the Brandywine YMCA in Coatesville on Tuesday.

All Chester County Health Department COVID-19 vaccine clinics are by appointment only. If you have not yet registered your interest in receiving the vaccine from the Chester County Health Department, go to www.chesco.org/covidvaccine.