Gov. Pete Ricketts recently announced a registration portal where all Nebraska residents are able to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
As vaccines are being distributed across the country, Nebraska is vaccinating its citizens in phases. The state is currently in Phase 1-B , which includes essential workers and people over the age of 65.
According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the general population is not scheduled to receive vaccines until May.
To ensure the process happens smoothly, Nebraska residents are encouraged to register for the vaccine now, so that they can be notified when they are eligible.
UNO student Hannah Boyd recently registered to receive the vaccine. She said registration only took her about five minutes, but she said there is a lack of awareness about the process.
“I think it’s pretty simple and straightforward,” she said. “I didn’t know about it, so that’s probably the biggest thing.”
Information about vaccine registration was announced on Feb. 10 but, as Boyd mentioned, public awareness appears to be low. In an attempt to gain clarification, city council candidate Sara Kohen recently sent a letter to public officials asking for more information regarding the vaccine.
“There’s still a lot of questions, too, particularly with regards to how can we make sure everybody has access to this information,” Kohen said.
Making sure information is available to the public will be essential for efficient vaccinations.
“People, for instance, who don’t have internet access or who might not feel as comfortable speaking and understanding English,” said Kohen. “How do we make sure they get that information?”
The first step to getting Nebraska residents vaccinated is to spread awareness of about the registration process.
To register for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccinate.ne.gov.
