People who have tried to schedule a vaccine appointment during Allegheny County web or 211 phone campaigns know about the endlessly frustrating “every-man-for-himself” process. The problem: Unlike UPMC, AHN and many pharmacies, the county doesn’t have a one-time registration system, and refuses to implement this approach. As a result, mounting anxiety and anger are correctly being targeted at the county. Its reputation is deteriorating and will only get worse when the state opens vaccinations to people under age 65.
The solution is easy: The county needs to get out of the vaccine business and transfer any future allocations to UPMC and AHN, where people register once and peacefully wait their turn. It’s time for the county to stop demonstrating its incompetence and leave the vaccine process to the pros.
Jay Lynch
Upper St. Clair