Vaccine Plan Needs Work

To the Editor:

Dear Governor Abbott,

Yesterday, I spent 4.5 hrs hitting redial on my cell phone trying to get in to make an appointment for a vaccine shot. (At last count over 300 calls.) After 4.5 hours of calls I reached a recording which said that someone would call me. They did call and I am scheduled to receive my first shot on Jan. 20.

So, what is the problem?

The first problem is that the telephone was used to sign people up. This led to people calling all day long. Some never got in and gave up. You really didn’t know when to give up.

Secondly, they used an 800 number that anyone in the world could use. You could actually have your relatives, friends, anyone call for you from anyplace. Good and bad associated with this.

Thirdly, and this is a big one, really elderly people with or without health problems might not have the time or ability to set up the phone to hit redial numerous times.

Fourth, what about people over 65 who have jobs? I worked past 65 years old and don’t believe my boss would have given me all day to make multiple calls.

Fifth, and this is another big one, for the people who did not get in, are they going to have to do this numerous times. Like 20 to 50 times?

Sixth, how do they know how many 65 + year olds are left unvaccinated before they move on to the next group. This reasoning also applies to the first responder group.

However, there is a better way to sign people up and it is simple.

First of all, this “sign up” needs to be web based. You would have unlimited time to sign up. The web site asked you what Texas county you live in, your age, and email address. It also asked if you are a first responder or medically impaired person. If so, you would be asked to show proof. The “By County” database has a lot of advantages. The county judge and others can see what percentage have been vaccinated. This would be a more open process.

Secondly, priority and execution of this: First responders are called for appointments from the web site. Next groups are people who are 90 to 100-year-old group. After that 80 to 90, 70 to 80, etc. Do this until each group is exhausted. Then go to the next group. There is no reason a 65-year-old should be vaccinated before a 90-year old just because the 90-year old cannot get in on the phone.

With this information in the data base, by county, you can see what percentage of the county have not been vaccinated and allocate the state wide vaccine by percentage of people who have signed up. The average person does not have any idea how this rollout works. My suggestion would create an open process made available to everyone.

I have not outlined all the finer details of this. I worked in information technology for Chevron 40 years and would be willing to work on a consulting basis on this for free. The development of the website is a simple, inexpensive thing. We had a warp speed for the development of a vaccine, now we need one for prioritizing, distribution, and execution.

Don Bruce Mendel

Fayetteville