211 to offer COVID-19 vaccine assistance for Iowans
Share
Updated: 6:31 AM CST Mar 5, 2021
Share
Updated: 6:31 AM CST Mar 5, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
ERIC: NEW THIS MORNING THE IOWA , COVID-19 CALL CENTER WILL EXPAND ITS SERVICES NEXT WEEK. KCCI’S TOMMIE CLARK BREAKS DOWN 211’S EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST YEAR AND IT’S NEW OFFERINGS. REPORTER: ONE YEAR AGO 211 , STARTED TAKING COVID-19 CALLS. THEY’VE FIELDED 150,000 SINCE THEN. THAT’S DOUBLE THEIR NORMAL CALL VOLUME. >> WE COULD NEVER HAVE ENVISIONED WHAT THIS WOULD TURN INTO. REPORTER: SO TRUE. NEXT WEEK, ONE YEAR LATER THEY’LL ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF , ASSISTANCE. CALLING 211 WILL LEAD TO A NEW PROMPT. IT WILL ASK IF IOWANS ARE LOOKING FOR VACCINE SCHEDULING. THEY’LL THEN CONNECT WITH A CALL SPECIALIST WHO CAN WALK THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS. DEPENDING ON VACCINE AVAILABILITY, THE GOAL IS TO ULTIMATELY HELP THAT PERSON FIND A VACCINE APPOINTMENT AT THEIR NEAREST HIGH V -- HYVEE. THE ADDITION IS MEANT FOR FOLKS WHO DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, OR THE TECHNICAL SKILLS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE A VACCINE APPOINTMENT. >> WE KNOW THAT PROVIDING THIS SERVICE WILL HELP THOSE IOWANS FIND WHAT THEY NEED, FIND IT QUICKLY, FIND IT EFFICIENTLY, AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF THIS FRUSTRATION WILL ABATE. REPORTER IF YOU DO HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SCHEDULE THAT APPOINTMENT, THEY ARE HOPING YOU WILL DO IT YOURSELF AND SAVE THIS SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT.