WALTHAM, Mass. — Since midnight Wednesday, residents throughout the commonwealth have been searching tirelessly for open appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine at one of the state’s dozens of sites. Many have failed to secure bookings.
The state launched the online tool for those who are 75 years old or older for appointments starting in February, but the amount of traffic on the website and the lack of vaccine supply have caused more frustration for some of the state’s oldest residents and their loved ones.
“I waited an hour in the cue,” said Edie Constantine of Waltham. “I had both my husband’s computer going and my computer going.”
Her husband Bill is over 75 and at high-risk for coronavirus.
“I’ve given up,” Constantine said.
Related: How to navigate the state’s COVID-19 vaccine sign-up site
Paula Rosenthal is trying to get her 91-year-old mother Eileen booked for a vaccine dose near her Foxborough home.
“It’s been a nightmare,” Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal began her efforts overnight and was still looking at lunchtime. Boston 25 News has gotten emails from many people upset with the difficulty of using the state’s website and the availability of time slots.
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An Andover viewer who is over 75 and good with computers said the state website “stinks,” and added that they live in an area that is a “vaccine wasteland.” Another viewer in Holbrook told Boston 25 News the state was “obviously unprepared.”
Maria Cameron lives in Salem and tried to get her stepfather an appointment for hours.
“It was just really difficult to navigate with someone who is extremely tech-savvy like myself,” Cameron explained.
Hours later, Cameron succeeded in getting her stepfather a spot.
“What a relief, he’s 80, he’s been through so much in the last year,” Cameron said.
>>>MORE: Residents 75 and older can now schedule Covid-19 vaccination appointments, but many having issues
Boston 25 News asked the state’s COVID-19 Command Center if any new tools would come online, such as an 800-number for seniors without web access to sign-up, and were told they are working on more resources for that group.
We also asked if the website would be revised and if a smartphone application was in development; the spokesperson did not have an immediate answer.
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