White Co. Exec. Concerned About Vaccine Supplies

After reports of Tennesseans driving to White County to receive COVID vaccinations, County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson investigated the situation.

Robinson said he counted 50 cars in the county’s health department Wednesday awaiting for COVID vaccines. According to Robinson, only eight were from within the county.

Robinson said he is not pleased with the situation, especially with vaccine supplies based on population.

“I don’t care if White County is the capital of vaccinations for the state of Tennessee,” Robinson said. “Everybody can come here and get theirs as long as I am given enough vaccines to cover White County and the additional people. Because if you divide this up based on population and then you let the entire population of the whole state come in, but you only give me enough for the population of White County, the math don’t add up.”

Robinson said after the discovery, he spoke with the state over the issue, but for now, all Tennesseans can still travel to any county to get vaccinated via appointment. Robinson said he is trying to manage the situation to ensure all eligible White County residents have vaccines available.

“This is happening all over the state,” Robinson said. “It is happening especially in the Upper Cumberland. Because the Upper Cumberland and our local health departments have done such a great job and our officials getting the word out and getting people vaccinated that we are a step above some.”

Each county is allotted vaccine supplies based on population. Robinson said the county receives about 400 first doses of vaccines weekly.