Utahns sought COVID-19 vaccine in good faith. But their slots were a state mistake, and they feel vilified. - Salt Lake Tribune

Word began to spread Friday on social media and in personal messages and conversations: The state of Utah was supposedly having trouble filling appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccines may be going to waste.

“I’m not a vaccine chaser,” said Kristin Fredrickson, 35, of Salt Lake City.

She and several other people told the same story — they heard that vaccines were going unused and appointments were going unfilled, so they went to the website to register.

Julie Bartel heard it from a friend who’s a professor at the University of Utah.

“Appointments were made in 100% good faith,” Bartel said.

Spencer Cox had said last week that “starting into April and May, our biggest concern is going to be vaccine hesitancy, like, how do we convince people to get this vaccine because we have so much of it.”.

Wolters tried to call the county health department to verify the information he’d heard, he said, but there were more than 50 callers on hold in front of him.

And when he answered all the questions truthfully and was still allowed to register for an appointment, he said, that seemed like confirmation that what he’d been told about unused vaccine doses was true.

There is a “strong insinuation that all of us who answered truthfully and signed up in good faith had intentionally done something wrong,” Bartel said.

Salt Lake County and state tech employees became aware there was a problem on Friday night, spokespeople said Monday.

“The response from the government/health department has been disheartening,” Bartel said.

Knowing that appointment was canceled 24 hours later is not something I’m going to forget either.”.

Brenda Wiebe, 35, of Salt Lake City said believing she had an appointment only to have it canceled was “incredibly disappointing.

“I don’t want to get vaccinated before it’s rightfully my turn,” said Jason Black, 45, of Salt Lake City