Utah County Begins Vaccinations For Residents 16+
Mar 24, 2021, 12:29 PM | Updated: 6:18 pm
AMERICAN FORK, Utah – Happening across Utah, those 16 and older are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
But in Utah County, they are already poking arms in this most recent rollout because appointments opened last Thursday.
“Yeah I’m excited,” said 18-year-old Truman Porter, a Pleasant Grove High School senior who received the vaccine Wednesday morning. “I didn’t even notice it going in. It was fine. It was great.”
Since he’s legally an adult, he could get the vaccine on his own, but is mom came along anyway because his little sister is also rolling up her sleeve for the Pfizer vaccine.
“She just turned 16 like a week ago,” Porter said. “So it is great she could get it.”
He and his sister are among thousands in Utah who signed up for the vaccine. More than 4,200 appointments are set in Utah County alone over the next three days.
The county’s vaccination clinic in American Fork has 2,000 appointments just for Wednesday.
“Last Thursday when we opened the appointments, they filled within 5 – 10 minutes,” said Danielle Chapman with the Utah County Health Department. “We expect that to happen again today.”
Chapman said the best way to get an appointment is to stay informed on when more become available.
“Usually it’s Thursdays, but if you text our text line at 888777 and text UCHealth, you’ll get a notification for when we open new appointments,” she said.
For Porter and his sister, the process was quick and easy and will be life changing.
“We can visit our grandparents now and be a lot more free,” he said.