Story updated throughout at 5:44 p.m.
Tarrant County Public Health is providing clarification after confusing emails were sent out related to a new online tool meant to allow residents to check their status on the COVID-19 registration list.
Tarrant County previously created a website where people can find out when they’re eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The new online tool launched Monday night. To check your vaccine status in Tarrant County, to tarrantcounty.com/covidshot, click "Status Check" on the right side, and enter your registration ID.
But there’s a problem: Not everybody has a registration ID.
“That’s what we were trying to resolve using an automated email,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said. “Instead of everybody calling us or checking on the website, let us send you your registration ID, and for one time, let us send you your current status.”
There were some emails that went out successfully Monday night: Taneja said as of early Tuesday morning, 15,000 people had been able to use the online tool and check their status.
“It went okay for a few thousand folks,” Taneja said. “But after the database picked up speed of sending those messages out, it had a glitch.”
During Monday night's launch, many residents reported receiving an email with missing or wrong information related to their registration.
Bill Fairley of Fort Worth said his email read, “Dear [151] [7]” instead of his name. It also didn’t include his registration ID.
“I'm just a little bit frustrated, like a lot of folks are, but I understand there's a lot going on,” Fairley, 61, said.
“Several thousand people got that message as well, and we’re very apologetic for the confusion it caused,” Taneja said.
For those still waiting to receive their registration ID, TCPH said they’re working with their vendor to fix the problem. Right now, they’re only sending 5,000 to 10,000 corrected emails at a time – and they’re sending them at night – to make sure the system doesn’t get overwhelmed.
County officials hope the new system will help prevent people from registering multiple times and can instead confirm their registration went through.
Tarrant County Health Director Dr. Vinny Taneja said one person had registered 47 times to get on the vaccine waitlist.
This online tool is for people already on the vaccine waitlist and for those who already received their first shot and are awaiting a second dose.
Tarrant County health also addressed in its tweets that many people didn't receive a number when they got their first coronavirus vaccination. Those who signed up in January also didn't receive an ID number.
To learn more about Tarrant County's registration process for the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
Digital producer Jozelyn Escobedo contributed to this story.