States rush to catch up on delayed COVID-19 vaccines, expand access
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Updated: 10:01 PM EST Feb 23, 2021
By NOMAAN MERCHANT and TAMMY WEBBER, Associated Press
States rush to catch up on delayed COVID-19 vaccines, expand access
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Updated: 10:01 PM EST Feb 23, 2021
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COMMUNITY HELPING COMMUNITY. FOR ELLIOTT, COCREATOR OF THE MARYLAND VACCINE HUNTERS FACEBOOK PAGE, A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE VACCINE PROCESS, IT SURPASSED HIS WILDEST DREAMS. >> I EXPECTED THE SITE TO BE POPULAR, BUT I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO EXPLODE THIS MUCH. >> HE GOT THE IDEA AFTER SEEING A SIMILAR SITE IN NEW ORLEANS. >> I CANNOT BELIEVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD IT, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, SUGGESTIONS. LOWELL: SOME SUCCESS STORIES INCLUDED CHARLENE MOWERY WHO WAS ABLE TO BOOK APPOINTMENTS FOR HERSELF AND HER HUSBAND. >> SOMEONE SAID, GIVE ME YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND INFORMATION, AND I WILL SEE IF I CAN GET YOU ON. IT’S JUST PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE. LOWELL: OTHERS WHO JUST STARTED USING IT ARE FINDING ALL THE INFORMATION TO BE VERY HELPFUL. >> I FEEL MORE OPTIMISTIC NOW THAT I SEE THAT THERE ARE LITTLE TRICKS TO TRY TO GET IN, BUT IT DOESN’T SEEM CRAZY THAT WE HAVE TO KNOW THE TRICKS TO TRY TO GO IN TO GET SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING. LOWELL: THE SITE HELPS TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE VACCINE, WHEN AND WHERE FOLKS CAN GET ONE, AS WELL AS THE POPULAR TIPS AND TRICKS. >> WE HAVE A SPREADSHEET IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION THAT HAS VARIOUS APPOINTMENT PORTALS LISTED, AND SOME OF THE TIPS AND TRICKS PEOPLE CAN USE TO SECURE APPOINTMENTS. LOWELL: IT ALSO PARES UP TECH SAVVY PEOPLE WITH SENIORS, IT COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER. >> IT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY GRATIFYING TO KNOW I HAVE HELPED SO MANY OF MY FELLOW MARYLANDERS, AND I HOPE I CAN HELP MANY MORE. LOWELL: AT LAST CHECK, THE SITE HAS MORE THAN 30,000 MEMBERS AND CONTINUES TO GROW. WE HAVE A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE TO VBA LTV.COM AND ON OUR MOBILE AP