Allegheny County's new vaccine registration system opens

The Allegheny County Health Department’s new vaccine registration system, designed to make registering for an appointment easier, is officially open to the public.

The department announced the new system was on the way last week and began a “soft launch” earlier this week. Individuals seeking a vaccine appointment through the county site can now register online at vax4.alleghenycounty.us.

Visitors to the site will be able to schedule first doses, second doses, reschedule appointments and cancel appointments, according to a news release. If choosing the “schedule first dose” option, the user will answer four questions that gauge vaccine eligibility and assess the person’s health.

If eligible, the next step will be to schedule an appointment. If not, users will be invited to pre-register.

Those who pre-register will be notified by text or email when they’re eligible and will be given priority to schedule an appointment for 48 hours, before remaining appointments will be opened to the general public.

The county’s new site comes the day after state officials announced major expansions in vaccine eligibility in Pennsylvania. Law enforcement, firefighters, grocery workers and food and agricultural workers were made eligible for appointments Wednesday. Beginning Monday, all of Phase 1B will be eligible, and beginning April 12, Phase 1C will be eligible.

All Pennsylvania adults will be eligible for the vaccine April 19.

Throughout this week, the release said, people who have already received their first dose through the health department but have not yet scheduled their second dose will be sent an email containing an appointment number for doing so with the new system. Users can select “schedule second dose” on the website and use the information emailed to schedule themselves for any clinic for which they’re eligible.

Allegheny County Health Department said they were aware of two issues regarding their registration site involving individuals who need to schedule their second shots.

The Health Department was working with the company and IT to troubleshoot and resolve the issues.

Anyone who doesn’t receive the email are asked to call the county’s 2-1-1 line.

PA 2-1-1 Southwest will also continue to assist in vaccine scheduling for people without internet access or computers.