Today’s media outrage at the state of Florida centers around how some counties in the state are using Eventbrite to schedule appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations:
Florida counties use Eventbrite to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments https://t.co/ab5pQndjUl pic.twitter.com/vVlqEMGcxB
— The Verge (@verge) January 5, 2021
It’s a real “gut-punch” they say:
Gut-punch of a lede: "Local health officials are turning to online services like Eventbrite to improvise distribution schemes for the COVID-19 vaccine in the absence of federal support or a national plan." https://t.co/7FquEboPEd
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) January 5, 2021
But why would this be any different if it were a state website?
Sitting in front of a computer clicking refresh constantly in the hope of being the first to have access to Eventbrite when an event goes live.
That event? A possible COVID vaccination for my parents.
That's right. Florida is running it's vaccine program through Eventbrite.
— Shamus Khan (@shamuskhan) January 3, 2021
And isn’t it a good thing that these counties are using technology that, you know, already works at scale?
Why would using a commercial off the shelf scheduling system to make vaccine appointments be a bad thing?
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 5, 2021
And, surprise! The Eventbrite process actually works:
FWIW a couple of relatives got vaccinated via Eventbrite appointment in FL and said it ran very smoothly https://t.co/UR9baCWsDQ
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) January 5, 2021
Click here to see for yourself:
Now, let’s compare Eventbrite to a county-run website, shall we?
Days for appointments only show for the North Dade Health Center, but no times.
Trying to book for my 90 and 91-year-old grandmothers. The soon-to-be 91 year old has been isolated in her Westchester home since March & she's been begging me for help. There's gotta be a better way https://t.co/CBIkTlDSN5
— Colleen Wright ? (@Colleen_Wright) January 5, 2021
Still waiting. . .
11:03 a.m. Now it's showing no dates and no times. https://t.co/GoJeKaQ5TQ
— Colleen Wright ? (@Colleen_Wright) January 5, 2021
. . .there are some bugs to work out:
Had been able to secure a location, date and time but then got a blank appointment confirmation page… pic.twitter.com/G0zRaleOia
— Daniela Ferrera (@DFerrera98) January 5, 2021
But we’ll note that seniors need to be aware of Eventbrite scams:
"Fake Eventbrite sites, posing as local health departments and charging people for vaccination appointments, led to some seniors showing up to Pasco points saying they had a slot, only to be told it was fraudulent…" Lord have mercy. https://t.co/GRZGtf3GrN
— Kathryn Varn (@kathrynvarn) January 5, 2021
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