Health & Fitness
DC Vaccine Site Faces Technical Problems As Eligibility Expands
On the first day that D.C. expanded its eligibility requirements to reserve a vaccination appointment, the District's system broke down.
WASHINGTON, DC — On the first day that D.C. residents 18 and up with specific medical conditions could reserve a vaccine appointment, the District of Columbia's online vaccination registration system broke down.
Starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, 4,350 vaccination appointments were supposed to be available for D.C. residents in priority ZIP codes and who are 65 years old or older, ages 18 to 64 who have a qualifying medical condition, and are a member of an eligible workforce group, according to the D.C. Department of Health.
"Due to the high volume of traffic on http://vaccinate.dc.gov, you may experience delays," D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted Thursday morning. "We are working to resolve as quickly as possible."
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Also, D.C. officials noted that the website's questionnaire was not updated to allow people with medical conditions to reserve an appointment. Everyone who tried to sign up using qualifying medical issues was rejected.
Due to the high volume of traffic on https://t.co/BmyOxFg0Qx, you may experience delays. We are working to resolve as quickly as possible. https://t.co/Q520TsOZPl
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) February 25, 2021
D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson said Thursday morning that the city is "aware of issues with the eligibility requirements. We’re told those are being addressed and hopefully resolved as soon as possible."
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Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen said he is aware that "there are apparently technical problems with both online portal & phone line."
"Lots of frustration that's understandable," Allen tweeted Thursday morning.
By late Thursday morning, after the system had been fixed, all 4,350 appointments available for the newly eligible category of residents had been booked.
On Thursday, D.C. residents of specific ZIP codes in Wards 5, 7 and 8 were eligible to reserve vaccine appointments. The ZIP codes included 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593.
On Friday at 9 a.m., D.C. Health will make about 4,350 additional appointments available for all District residents who are 65 years of age or older, have a qualifying medical condition, and/or are a member of an eligible workforce group. These appointments are also available to workers who live outside the District but work in D.C.
This is the first time residents 18 and up with specific medical conditions can reserve an appointment to get a vaccination. Here are those conditions:
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