Marin County Creates Vaccine Call Center

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Some Marin County residents who are unable to make vaccination appointments with the click of a mouse can now do so by picking up their phones.

The county announced last week the creation of a call-in center to local residents without internet service who need assistance with registration, transportation, and communication related to the vaccination process.

The Access Service Center will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the duration of the pandemic.

To be eligible for call center assistance residents must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be 65 or older
• Living with disabilities (all ages)
• In need of home care or personal assistance
• Need language interpretation (including ASL)
• Have limited or no internet access
• Need help arranging transportation to and from an appointment

A second appointment hotline for eligible vaccine residents of all ages is offered through the state at (833) 422-4255.

The local hotline figures to help make the vaccine available to those who don’t have the technical skills or equipment to make an appointment online, county officials said.

Kris Christie, a Public Health Nurse with Marin County Public Health’s Aging and Adult Services Division, is involved in developing and improving the call center.

“The vaccination registration process is heavily tech-influenced, and what we’re doing is meeting the needs of individuals who may not use the latest technology or need other accommodations,” Christie said.

“As the tiers open up and more doses become available, we have to be flexible and ensure that all of our residents have equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The local call center is a collaboration between the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Vivalon[External], the San Rafael-based nonprofit (formerly known as Whistlestop).

The Access Service Center can be reached at (833) 641-1988.