On Tuesday, 700 available appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine with the Webster County Health Department filled up within 45 minutes.

WCHD started accepting appointments for the Moderna vaccine at 1 p.m. for those age 65 and older. The first vaccination clinic for those appointments will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crossroads Mall.

Those scheduling vaccines had to meet the age requirement, not be actively sick and not be in public health isolation.

Those who were unable to be scheduled for this Saturday’s clinic will be eligible for future clinics as the county receives vaccine allocations from the state.

“This is the first mass COVID vaccine scheduling clinic like this that we have done. We did have a technical glitch which made our online scheduler available before 1 p.m.,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer.

Approximately 60 people were able to register for appointments before 1 p.m. Their appointments were validated and kept.

Bloomquist said so many people tried to book appointments online at 1 p.m. that the scheduler became overloaded, but was back online within five minutes.

“We are so glad that so many people are excited to get the vaccine,” she said. “Please remember to be kind and patient as we work through these mass vaccination clinics. The Health Department’s number one goal has always been — and continues to be — the health and safety of Webster County residents.”

Iowa remains in a vaccine shortage.

“Everyone had a job, and while this was the first time for us to schedule a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic, it went well,” Bloomquist said. “(We) received so many messages (Tuesday) afternoon from people thanking us for the upcoming clinic, for being able to vaccinate their grandparents and great-grandparents, and for providing them with information throughout the past 11 months. Today was just the first of what will be many scheduling days for vaccine clinics.”

Residents who received an appointment will receive an automated phone call on Friday reminding them.