The county has hired CuraPatient to develop the app, which will also be used to track side effects that may come from vaccinations.
After the CB opened eligibility for residents aged 65 and over on Tuesday, the system was overwhelmed by people trying to get appointments to the point where people could no longer register. Messages, calls and emails entered the Eyewitness News with complaints.
According to the OC Health Agency, 10,000 people were able to receive meetings Tuesday night. Some of them are friends of Marvel Bartley.
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“They were very successful. They went to Disneyland and found that maybe it’s an hour, which isn’t bad at all, so I don’t think it’s a total disaster, but I think it’s a challenge,” Bartley said.
Bartley was eligible for vaccination as part of the group aged 65 and over, but as of Friday afternoon, she was only able to register for Othena. Bartley said he would try to book an appointment. She said patience and persistence are essential.
“I think that’s what it takes,” Bartley said.
Bartley and others who were able to register shared the messages they received stating that they were not eligible for meetings (although they were all over 65), that slots were not available, or that confirming meetings, but without a date, time and location.
Joseph McFaul said he moved too slowly when he had a chance and had the option to accept a time.
ABOUT US: OC residents aged 65 and over can now receive COVID-19 vaccine
“I quickly went down to ‘accept’ that meeting and as soon as I clicked on it, he said no meetings were available,” McFaul said.
Adding to the frustration, many in the age group over 65 may not feel comfortable with or have access to the technology.
According to US census estimates, 14% of the OC’s 3.2 million inhabitants are in this age group.
According to census data, in district OC 5, approximately 110,000, or 17.5% of approximately 620,000 people are 65 years of age or older. District 5 Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the technology is still the most effective way.
“When you think of vaccinating the population aged 65 or over in our county, showing the aging demographic that represents a huge population and we want to vaccinate that population in the most effective way possible and putting everyone through the Othena vaccination process to schedule meetings which is really the most effective way to record everyone, get all the information collected in one data warehouse and be able to schedule meetings, ”Bartlett said.
Bartlett urged residents to keep trying as new appointments opened daily and said a live chat would soon be available for assistance.
McFaul appreciated the challenge of the task at hand, but said the bugs should have been fixed before going live.
“Having an ordinary person try to use it and see what obstacles they face, and I think if they did those things, they would have a better system right away,” McFaul said.
The OCHCA director on Tuesday asked Orange County supervisors to find communities in their districts with a large number of seniors who may not have access to the Disneyland Super POD. The agency will send mobile PODs to these areas on Sunday to vaccinate people, rotating locations weekly.
Schedules for these Sunday mobile PODs will not go through Othena. Those interested can contact the district supervisory office instead.
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