Iowans having a hard time getting a COVID-19 vaccine appointment now have an option to get instant alerts when one becomes available.Iowa City web developer Brian Finley launched the automated @IAVaccineAlerts Twitter page Wednesday.It lists new appointments at Iowa Hy-Vee, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.Finley said the idea came to him as he and other Iowans with pre-existing conditions became eligible for the vaccine Monday.”I was trying to find vaccines for myself and a couple other of my close family, my mom, my mother in law, that kind of thing and was getting a little frustrated with how difficult it could be,” Finley said.Finley says he saw people across the country using tools to aggregate appointment data and he put them to work for Iowa. He says the page comes in handy for those willing to drive a bit to get a shot and anybody with a busy schedule.”If somebody’s at work, they can’t afford to sit and sit at a computer all day and do this kind of stuff,” Finley said. “You know, for those people that are out there actively searching, they should have an easier way to get at it. So I tried to help.”There’s no guarantee that a listed appointment will be available when you see it, so Finley suggests setting up alerts so you can be instantly notified when a new appointment becomes available. Finley is also helping out our neighbors, setting up a Minnesota Vaccine Alerts Twitter page. He said he is considering launching Illinois and Wisconsin versions as well.Finley said he isn’t seeking any donations for the project; he suggests donating to these charities instead.For more information about vaccines in Iowa, click here.
Iowans having a hard time getting a COVID-19 vaccine appointment now have an option to get instant alerts when one becomes available.
Iowa City web developer Brian Finley launched the automated @IAVaccineAlerts Twitter page Wednesday.
It lists new appointments at Iowa Hy-Vee, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.
Finley said the idea came to him as he and other Iowans with pre-existing conditions became eligible for the vaccine Monday.
“I was trying to find vaccines for myself and a couple other of my close family, my mom, my mother in law, that kind of thing and was getting a little frustrated with how difficult it could be,” Finley said.
Finley says he saw people across the country using tools to aggregate appointment data and he put them to work for Iowa. He says the page comes in handy for those willing to drive a bit to get a shot and anybody with a busy schedule.
“If somebody’s at work, they can’t afford to sit and sit at a computer all day and do this kind of stuff,” Finley said. “You know, for those people that are out there actively searching, they should have an easier way to get at it. So I tried to help.”
There’s no guarantee that a listed appointment will be available when you see it, so Finley suggests setting up alerts so you can be instantly notified when a new appointment becomes available.
Finley is also helping out our neighbors, setting up a Minnesota Vaccine Alerts Twitter page. He said he is considering launching Illinois and Wisconsin versions as well.
Finley said he isn’t seeking any donations for the project; he suggests donating to these charities instead.
For more information about vaccines in Iowa, click here.