Letter to the editor: Frustrating quest for vaccine

I am 88 years old and have compromised immunity due to giant cell arteritis. At my age I am basically computer illiterate, so trying to apply for an appointment for the covid-19 vaccination has been almost incomprehensible for me.

The Pennsylvania map of available sites that “may” have vaccinations available is worthless. Twice the Tribune-Review reported that the vaccine is available in Allegheny County at the DoubleTree hotel in Monroeville. The map of available sites does not even list this location with either red or green “available” dots.

When I contact the Allegheny County Health Department, they refer me to the useless Pennsylvania site, or if I am lucky to a seven-stage application for the DoubleTree clinic. By the time I try to fill out this complicated online application, all the appointment time slots are filled — probably by younger, more computer-savvy people or unqualified Phase 1A people. The next time vaccinations become available, will I be forced to repeat this same frustrating and probably futile exercise again?

Whoever negotiated the covid-19 vaccine distribution contract between the federal government and Pennsylvania or devised or agreed to the application procedure was obviously not thinking of people my age, and should be fired.

Elsemarie Schiller

Penn Hills