CADIZ — The Harrison County Health Department launched a new online tool for residents to use to schedule their own appointment time to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

In response to expanding eligibility guidelines, the department made an online scheduling tool available for residents to sign up and select their own appointment time slot to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The new program allows residents to select a specific time during the week’s clinic as opposed to being on a call list and waiting for the health department to contact them.

Garen Rhome, administrator of the county’s health department, said with eligibility opening up to more people, the new registration method will be more efficient for upcoming drive-through clinic scheduling.

“We worked really hard to make sure that we served the older population, the folks that might not be as technologically savvy. Now with the eligibility opening up and the phases including those younger in age, we anticipate there will be more people interested and this will help them book their time online instead of us reaching out to each and every person,” he said.

Rhome said any future clinic dates will be available on the website for residents to select from. The self-scheduling tool is now open for residents ages 40 and over, along with those with specified medical conditions. Eligible residents can sign up for the department’s next clinic, set for Friday. Next week the county’s clinics will open up to all adults ages 18 and older.

The health department continues to encourage any eligible residents who are interested in receiving the vaccine to sign up to do so.

“If you were still deciding and are now interested, you haven’t missed out. We will keep administering to the older population as well,” he said.

Rhome said he expects to administer more than 200 vaccinations during the upcoming clinic. Appointments are available in 15-minute increments, he said. Once a person is determined eligible, they can select an arrival time. The website will then inform the resident of the clinic location and how to prepare for the vaccination day, he said.

Rhome said he also recommends that any person interested in receiving the vaccine visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov, the state’s vaccination website. The website will help determine the person’s eligibility and then direct them to the nearest vaccine provider.

“That’s a good starting place for anyone in Ohio, not just residents in Harrison County,” he said. “Once it determines the person’s eligibility it will either provide a scheduling tool directly on that website, or it will indicate the provider in your area and how to get in touch with them.”

Now that the new self-scheduling tool has opened, the health department has closed its previously used call list; however, Rhome said staff will ensure those who are signed up on the list will be contacted and scheduled for an appointment.

“We have a relatively short call list that we will continue to honor and reach out to those people and book them,” he said.

The scheduling tool is now open for Friday’s clinic. Any eligible county resdient that is interested in receving the vaccine this week can visit www.signupgenius.com/go/10COC48ABD2DA1F8C07-harrison, or find the link on the Harrison County Health Department’s website. When prompted, enter the access code harco32621 to sign up for the clinic.