Software is always a mess, always. Software developers are known to have the users debug their software. Yes, those who pay get to work, for free. In my opinion and my experience this has been a pandemic Microsoft problem. I have spent a good deal of my life doing work arounds with their software. But alas, it was not mission critical. My typical example was Apollo XIII, and the return guidance system. I designed the second backup, a simple sextant with electrical readouts but independent of the computer. No one ever thought it would be needed or at least that is what I thought. Well, history is a bit different.
Now the NY Times states:
When coronavirus vaccines first became available, state health officials in Virginia turned to software recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to schedule appointments. But people complained that the software, called VAMS, was too confusing for older adults to use. So the state switched to another system, PrepMod — but that had problems, too. Links sent to seniors for their appointments were reusable and found their way to Facebook, leading to one vaccination event in Richmond with dozens of overbookings. Some of those people threatened health care workers when they were turned away. “It was a nightmare scenario,” said Ruth Morrison, the policy director for the Richmond and Henrico County health district. “People showing up confused, irate, thinking they had an appointment.” State and local health departments around the country continue to face delays dispensing shots, in part because flaws remain in the appointment software tools like those used in Richmond. The problems threaten to slow the vaccine rollout even as supplies and distribution are picking up quickly across the country.
But worse is yet to come:
On Thursday, President Biden said
that his administration would send out technical teams to help states
improve their websites. He also said the federal government would open a
website by May 1 that would allow Americans to find out where the
vaccine is available.
If you think these other messes are bad wait until we get the Feds involved. Regrettably we may regress. We have been playing "whack a mole" for months. I really do not know how many older folks can find their way. I found an entry and still await a final inoculation. Hopefully it works. But the Feds are the last ones to see anything get done. Not to mention the new level of political correctness imposed.
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