Less than 18% of the COVID19 vaccines that have been delivered in Arizona had been used as of 12/31. Clearly something is amiss, but what?
It turns out that one of the core reasons for the slow use of vaccines had to do with an ADHS computer software system. It was supposed to efficiently make vaccination appointments and provide billing information among other things. It’s built into the ADHS’ Vaccine Management System (VMS).
It’s a long story, but glitches in the ADHS’ VMS scheduling software failed to make appointments for thousands of healthcare workers that had pre-registered for vaccination. Many received no information at all back from the ADHS system. Others were instructed to go to Show Low, Globe or Snowflake for their vaccine even though they live in Maricopa County.
As a result, two of the five mass vaccination sites in Maricopa County were largely empty for many days in December. The glitches have apparently been corrected as of this weekend.
It’s a long story, but if you want to read more, check out this story by Ray Stern in the Phoenix New Times: Arizona Vaccine Rollout Delayed by Computer Glitches, County Says.
New COVID Vaccine Executive Order Issued
Last week the Governor issued an Executive Order that he said is designed to make vaccination efforts more streamlined. The Executive Order says that the ADHS is supposed to use a statewide “vaccine allocation model”, can reallocate vaccine, and must approve all private vaccination sites. It also requires counties to post their vaccination progress and vaccination sites on their websites.
The Order doesn’t give the ADHS any authority that it doesn’t already have, but it does provide some direction and expectations to the Department.
Here’s where you can look it over. Honestly, it doesn’t look substantive to me.
