Ontario reportedly setting up mass vaccination web portal, using system criticized in U.S.
Posted February 9, 2021 9:46 am.
Last Updated February 9, 2021 9:48 am.
Ontario is reportedly working on a portal to guide people to mass vaccination clinics once vaccines are widely available.
But as the Toronto Star reports, the online booking portal for eventual mass COVID-19 vaccinations will use the same scheduling software as a system in California that’s been criticized as cumbersome. Some are questioning the decision to use the software system.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson tells the Star that work is underway to incorporate registration and eligibility for the beginning of March, which is when the province hopes to be in phase 2 of the vaccine rollout.
Phase 2 will see the vaccine offered to seniors aged 80 and older as well as essential workers.
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In California, there have been complaints that the system isn’t much better than the ones used to get concert tickets.
Critics say it allows younger, whiter, wealthier and more tech-savvy people to get appointments, despite being the ones least impacted by the virus. Seniors have reported having problems navigating the website.
Similar issues have shown up in an online booking system in New York City.
