The Center for Community Resources (CCR) was overwhelmed with calls Friday by senior citizens looking to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Brandon Savochka, county human services director, said seniors learned that CCR has taken over for the county Area Agency on Aging on scheduling vaccine appointments at Butler Memorial Hospital for those unable to schedule online.

Many who had left their name and information with the Butler County Area Agency on Aging then called CCR's new toll-free number, 888-550-7468, to ensure they are still on the list to get a shot once more doses arrive at the hospital.

“A large portion of the calls now are people saying, 'Do I need to re-register?'” Savochka said late Friday morning.

He stressed that seniors who have called the Area Agency on Aging and given their information are still on the list to be scheduled for a vaccine once the hospital receives a shipment.

They do not need to call CCR as well, he said.

Savochka said the two agencies have been working together recently to complete the majority of scheduling for those age 65 and older who do not have the technology to schedule a vaccine online at Butler hospital.

When all seniors are vaccinated, CCR will then schedule Butler Memorial Hospital vaccines for those age 64 and younger who cannot do it online, Savochka said.

He said when the hospital receives a shipment of vaccines, it allocates a certain amount to call-in registrants.

The majority of vaccines go to those who have scheduled an appointment on the hospital's website, Savochka said.

He said those who call for an appointment give their name and insurance information.

“Then they wait patiently to get a call back,” Savochka said. “That call could be in two to three days, or two to three weeks.”

The hospital makes appointments available on its scheduling page online when doses become available.

Mike Robb, president and CEO at CCR, said he tested the new toll-free number seven times before it was released.

Robb said he is thrilled that CCR will help those without a computer or technology skills schedule an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine at Butler hospital.

“We are built to do the calls, and the hospital is built to do the vaccine,” Robb said.

He said taking calls from seniors was affecting the work the Agency on Aging staff does for seniors in the county, so the decision was made to switch the task over to CCR.

“We have 10 staff answering calls all day to handle this,” Robb said.

He said anyone with concerns about scheduling the vaccine at the hospital can call CCR's toll-free number.

“We'll help anybody, whether they have a technical issue or they want to talk to somebody (about scheduling a vaccine),” Robb said.

He thanked Savochka and the county commissioners for stepping in when it became apparent that some county residents were unable to schedule a vaccine online.

“He's the one who helped get everything together, along with the commissioners,” Robb said.

Beth Herold, director at the Agency on Aging, said it is hard for seniors to give their information and then wait for a call that their vaccines can be scheduled.

“Some seniors are very worried that they haven't heard back, and they call numerous times,” she said. “We don't have the manpower to handle that call volume.”

She said two CCR employees were on hand during the week at the Agency on Aging office helping to handle calls and learning the process.

All calls switched to CCR on Friday.