Letter to the Editor: Bedford’s First Covid Vaccine Sign-up

February 6, 2021

Submitted by Anonymous Bedford elder

The Bedford COVID vaccine sign-up of 5 February by our health department was, in my view,  a sad show. I was told by a town official that all appointment slots were full in the first 10 to 15 minutes. It took me that long to navigate through the complex and misleading web site to find the sign-up sheet—then another 10 to 15 minutes to fill it out. So in essence the sign-up process is a speed-typing contest for folks over 75. The phone number included for help with the form did not get answered by a human being—you got a recording from the COA.

Editor’s Note: The Citizen has learned that the Town has begun to call back the hundreds of residents who left messages at the Council on Aging on Friday, and thanks everyone for their patience as the system is refined.

I understand there were 100 shots available—I am guessing that we have 1000 elder folks desiring the vaccine.

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There is an orderly way to do this: have all qualified elders who want the vaccination send in their name and contact info. Then do a lottery-type drawing for the first 100 recipients, then the next 100 for the following week, etc. (If it turns out some person who applies is not qualified draw another name.) A Bedford elder applies once without filling out all the details on the application and knows right away the date for their shot.

We can do better—the Health Department folks owe Bedford elders a better process.

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Elder
February 7, 2021 9:18 am

What an embarrassment! The town leaders think of themselves as intellectuals who know better, yet they cannot handle a simple process of delivering 100 shots in which they had months to prepare.

Besides can and should do better than this. Elders are not to be treated this way.

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