Volunteers create alternative listing of COVID-19 vaccination sites in Massachusetts – WCVB Boston

A group of about 20 volunteers banded together to create another alternative resource for connecting eligible Massachusetts residents with COVID-19 vaccination sites. Kunal Shah, a product manager for a local company, said his motivation to participate in VaccinateMA.com came during a visit to his parents in California. They were having trouble trying to navigate the system in that state and another group of volunteers created their own website there.The Massachusetts state website has led to a great deal of frustration, especially since the start of Phase 2 opened appointments to residents age 75 or older -- if they can find them.The state's website is essentially a directory of vaccination locations. When it launched, that directory was only available in the form of a map but a search-by-zipcode function has since been added. Shah and the other volunteers saw the frustration with the state's website and thought they would be able to help. "For us, its literally how can we in as few clicks as possible figure out, help you figure out, where there is a vaccination site with available appointments in as few taps on your phone or on your desktop as you possibly need," he said.They started with the state's list of vaccination sites but the volunteers also make regular phone calls to vaccine providers to check on whether appointments are currently available. "We're actually checking with these locations every single day to see what are the latest number of appointments available and if there are scheduling opportunities available for people in Phase two," he said. Shah and the other volunteers aren't the only ones to have had a similar idea. Olivia Adams, a software engineer from Arlington, created macovidvaccines.com after observing the frustrations her in-laws were having with the state's website. Adams said Monday that her website was getting 400 hits per minute. Still, all of these websites are essentially directories repackaging information about where vaccines are offered. Eligible residents must still follow a link to another site in order to apply for their appointment. There is no central portal to enter patient information and each vendor has its own registration form that must be filled out, which is frustrating if you have to check for availability at multiple locations.In response to the widespread frustrations, state officials launched a phone service to help eligible residents book appointments. The call center, accessible through 2-1-1, is open from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The governor said it will be available to those age 75 and over who do not have access to the state's website.If the call taker is unable to immediately schedule an appointment, Baker said residents will be offered a chance to be put on a callback list for future help.

A group of about 20 volunteers banded together to create another alternative resource for connecting eligible Massachusetts residents with COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Kunal Shah, a product manager for a local company, said his motivation to participate in VaccinateMA.com came during a visit to his parents in California. They were having trouble trying to navigate the system in that state and another group of volunteers created their own website there.

The Massachusetts state website has led to a great deal of frustration, especially since the start of Phase 2 opened appointments to residents age 75 or older -- if they can find them.

The state's website is essentially a directory of vaccination locations. When it launched, that directory was only available in the form of a map but a search-by-zipcode function has since been added.

Shah and the other volunteers saw the frustration with the state's website and thought they would be able to help.

"For us, its literally how can we in as few clicks as possible figure out, help you figure out, where there is a vaccination site with available appointments in as few taps on your phone or on your desktop as you possibly need," he said.

They started with the state's list of vaccination sites but the volunteers also make regular phone calls to vaccine providers to check on whether appointments are currently available.

"We're actually checking with these locations every single day to see what are the latest number of appointments available and if there are scheduling opportunities available for people in Phase two," he said.

Shah and the other volunteers aren't the only ones to have had a similar idea. Olivia Adams, a software engineer from Arlington, created macovidvaccines.com after observing the frustrations her in-laws were having with the state's website.

Adams said Monday that her website was getting 400 hits per minute.

Still, all of these websites are essentially directories repackaging information about where vaccines are offered. Eligible residents must still follow a link to another site in order to apply for their appointment.

There is no central portal to enter patient information and each vendor has its own registration form that must be filled out, which is frustrating if you have to check for availability at multiple locations.

In response to the widespread frustrations, state officials launched a phone service to help eligible residents book appointments.

The call center, accessible through 2-1-1, is open from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The governor said it will be available to those age 75 and over who do not have access to the state's website.

If the call taker is unable to immediately schedule an appointment, Baker said residents will be offered a chance to be put on a callback list for future help.

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Volunteers create alternative listing of COVID-19 vaccination sites in Massachusetts - WCVB Boston