ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – News 4 examined on Wednesday how some people get a COVID vaccine before they should, but they may not even realize it because they sign up through links shared on social networks intended for one person.

Last week – Kathy Dibble-Page says she came across a link, posted to a Facebook group, to schedule a vaccine through Mercy.

“I’m at all the hospital sites, I’m at the county site, the state site, and I’ve never heard anything,” said Dibble-Page, 63. She suffers from COPD and was equally shocked as she was delighted to find over 25 vacancies. “I was really surprised and immediately started filling out all the paperwork. “

She chose Mercy’s vaccination clinic over Ballas, then was directed to a page to fill out her information. She submitted the form and then received a confirmation email. But when Dibble-Page showed up for her date on Tuesday, she said an employee told her that link sharing was not allowed.

“It made me feel bad, I felt like I wasn’t meant to be there,” she said.

Ken Kellogg oversees Mercy’s vaccine planning system and thinks most people sharing links are just trying to help. But if the link wasn’t sent to you straight – you could steal someone else – more vulnerable to their date.

“It happens a lot, it happens most of the time when we get inventory,” Ken Kellogg said. “Someone could sign up and get this vaccine when there’s someone else that has a higher risk profile and maybe they’re a little more vulnerable and it could be the people who don’t. aren’t that quick and maybe they don’t get a date… I don’t think they know they are doing anything wrong.

Dibble-Page is in a qualifying tier, so Mercy gave her a shot, but she doesn’t want the others to make the same mistake.

“If they want it for one person, they have to contact that person directly and get it for a single link.”

Mercy is fixing their system, so all links are one-time use. They hope the issue will be resolved by Friday. We’re learning that’s not just a problem at Mercy. On other sites, you may be refused to subscribe to a shared link.

Copyright 2021 KMOV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved