Vaccine registry needed

Pennsylvania’s system for getting a COVID-19 vaccination is, in a word, a mess. Residents can go online to find out if they are eligible, but from there they are on their own as far as finding a health care provider or pharmacy or physician’s office that may have vaccines available. In some cases, they can make a phone call — if they can get past the busy signal. Or they click. And click. And click through the array of sites that may — may — have a shot available.

Frustration is at a peak and there simply has to be a better way of getting the vaccine to the millions of residents eager for the injection. It’s time the state took immediate action to establish a statewide vaccine registry to streamline the process and put an end to the confusion and frustration.

There’s no denying that the lack of vaccines is the biggest problem at the moment, but assurances from manufacturers of increased production — and the approval of a third vaccine — should help soon. In the meantime, establishing a statewide registry would allow vaccine providers to contact individuals and schedule appointments rather than having thousands of people overwhelming individual provider websites and phone lines in hopes of getting a shot.

A number of state House Democrats have proposed a bill that would establish such a registry. Under their plan, residents could register themselves and family members who are willing to receive the vaccine, provide proof of eligibility for a risk category and list how far they are willing to travel.

Vaccine providers who have registered to access the database could then contact patients — in priority order — to make appointments for vaccinations.

Allegheny County Council members have endorsed the idea, passing a motion urging the state Department of Health to create a statewide system to coordinate vaccinations.

A similar system is used in neighboring West Virginia, which has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country while Pennsylvania hovers near the bottom of the list.

Instead of borrowing from a model that works, Pennsylvania relies on a system that is fraught with inconsistencies and failures. More than a month has passed since vaccinations began, and the state still has been unable to administer doses to all residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities — the most vulnerable citizens who are supposed to be a priority.

Legislative action to establish the registry could take too long to be effective. The governor and state Department of Health officials should instead initiate a plan to move quickly in setting up a registry that replaces the free-for-all that now is in place.