Vent about DC vaccine registration snafus

[Anonymous]

Snafu is my self-censored term for what I really want to say.

The first time I used the system was to register my elderly mother. The website crashed for an hour and a half.

Today I tried to register myself (preexisting condition, in priority zip code). Someone didn't update the hard edit on the website which prevented people under 65 from registering, even though we are eligible.

This whole thing is stressful enough without IT failures. Who is in charge of this and can someone in the area please help them! Seriously I know BS in computer science grads who could do a better job here.

[Anonymous]

It's DC, where "not my problem" is the mantra of civic officials. The buck will be passed from the mayor to the council to the health department down to the employees responsible, who will receive a mild scolding, if anything. Do not expect heads to roll.

Look at the problems with the unemployment payments. The tech issues there have been known about for *years*. Elissa Silverman oversees this on the Council and has let it happen despite being well aware that it was a broken system. No one is holding her feet to the fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's DC, where "not my problem" is the mantra of civic officials. The buck will be passed from the mayor to the council to the health department down to the employees responsible, who will receive a mild scolding, if anything. Do not expect heads to roll.

Look at the problems with the unemployment payments. The tech issues there have been known about for *years*. Elissa Silverman oversees this on the Council and has let it happen despite being well aware that it was a broken system. No one is holding her feet to the fire.

Or, try to get an appointment at the DMV. We are a year into this and it's impossible to use that website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snafu is my self-censored term for what I really want to say.

The first time I used the system was to register my elderly mother. The website crashed for an hour and a half.

Today I tried to register myself (preexisting condition, in priority zip code). Someone didn't update the hard edit on the website which prevented people under 65 from registering, even though we are eligible.

This whole thing is stressful enough without IT failures. Who is in charge of this and can someone in the area please help them! Seriously I know BS in computer science grads who could do a better job here.

Month 4 of vaccinations. They just don't care about making vaccinations work for residents. Out of state workers, sign up clinics, hospitals calling patients sure. Regular old residents? Good luck to ya!

[Anonymous]

Ha. Mayor tried to blame Microsoft all morning. Then was told that it was DC Govt fault actually.

The amazing part thing (I am a software engineer) is that there is apparently no testing ability with the software. Why is there no dummy data set that is run through the software every time a variable is updated. It is apparently just not worth it to our city government to make this easier for the customer.

And I suppose, why should it be. Testing software costs money. FUBAR'ing your customer set in this case costs nothing.

[Anonymous]

I just saw a message that they are opening up 3,500 appointments for priority zip codes (what should have happened today) on Saturday at 9am. Check it out if you missed out this morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha. Mayor tried to blame Microsoft all morning. Then was told that it was DC Govt fault actually.

The amazing part thing (I am a software engineer) is that there is apparently no testing ability with the software. Why is there no dummy data set that is run through the software every time a variable is updated. It is apparently just not worth it to our city government to make this easier for the customer.

And I suppose, why should it be. Testing software costs money. FUBAR'ing your customer set in this case costs nothing.

Testing! I spit my beer out right there.

DC Govt does not test software. Have you ever used OCTO before?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hahaha thank you! I'm going to use that at work.

[Anonymous]

This is what I don't understand. We have known about this moment for over a year. Scientists worked their butts off to develop and test a vaccine. The website and vaccine registration is a small problem by comparison. Why didn't they develop it in March of last year and test it out on real people before the vaccine was even available? This part should be seamless by now!

[Anonymous]

Because Bowser is an idiot.

This is fact - regardless of the glossy PDF updates on her pet projects and “aren’t I wonderful” emails.

[Anonymous]

The city has embarrassing digital infrastructure all around. This is what happens when no-bid contracts go to big campaign donors. Zero accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because Bowser is an idiot.

This is fact - regardless of the glossy PDF updates on her pet projects and “aren’t I wonderful” emails.

There's clearly a team workin' 9-5 on these, tis' true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OMG I'm dying here, thank you for this (I'm in IT).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The city has embarrassing digital infrastructure all around. This is what happens when no-bid contracts go to big campaign donors. Zero accountability.

Have you ever used any DC Govt website? OCTO is embarrassing. People make fun of the DoD for their strange enterprise web choices, but those have nothing on the pure dysfunctionality of OCTO.

DC Govt according to their website has been working on vaccine plan since May 2020. If you believe that, obviously none of that planning prowess was used in an actual rehearsal.