Orange County residents struggle to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments via the Othena app

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) – User complaints filled social media after thousands of people flooded the Othena app on Tuesday, the Orange County Health Care Agency’s platform used to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations.

The county hired CuraPatient to develop the app, which will also be used to track any side effects that may come from inoculations.

After OC opened eligibility to residents 65 and older on Tuesday, the system was overwhelmed with people trying to get appointments to the point where people could no longer register. Messages, calls and emails entered Eyewitness News with complaints.

According to the OC Health Care Agency, 10,000 people were able to get appointments overnight Tuesday. Some of them are Marvel Bartley’s friends.

RELATED: Disneyland to Host Orange County’s First Mass Vaccination Site

“They were really successful. They went to Disneyland and thought it was maybe an hour, which isn’t bad at all, so I don’t think it’s a total disaster, but I think it’s tough, ”Bartley said.

Bartley was eligible for vaccination in the 65+ age group, but on Friday afternoon she was only able to register on Othena. Bartley said she would keep trying to make an appointment. She said patience and persistence were essential.

“I think that’s what it takes,” Bartley said.

Bartley and others who were able to sign up shared messages they received stating that they were not eligible for dates (although they are all over 65), that the slots were not available, or confirmed appointments, but without date, time and place.

Joseph McFaul said he moved too slowly when he had a chance and he had the opportunity to accept a time.

RELATED: CO Residents 65 and Over Can Now Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

“I quickly went downstairs to ‘accept’ this date and as soon as I clicked on it he indicated that no appointment was available,” said McFaul.

Adding to the frustration, many members of the 65 and over age group may not be comfortable with or have access to technology.

According to U.S. Census estimates, 14% of OC’s 3.2 million residents fall into this age group.

According to estimates from census tract data, in OC District 5, approximately 110,000 people, or 17.5% of approximately 620,000 people, are 65 years of age or older. District 5 supervisor Lisa Bartlett said this technology is still the most effective route.

“When you are looking at vaccinating the 65+ population in our county, showing the aging demographics which is a huge population and we want to vaccinate that population in the most efficient way possible and subjecting everyone to the process of vaccination of Othena to schedule appointments which is really the most efficient way to register everyone, get all the information collected in a data repository and be able to schedule appointments, ”Bartlett said.

Bartlett asked residents to keep trying as new appointments are opening every day and announced that soon a live chat will be available for help.

McFaul enjoyed the challenge of the task at hand, but said the bugs should have been fixed before they went live.

“By asking a typical person to try and use it and see what obstacles they run into and I think if they had just done these things they would have had a better system right away,” McFaul said.

The director of OCHCA on Tuesday asked Orange County supervisors to find communities in their districts with large numbers of seniors who may not have access to the Disneyland Super POD. The agency will send mobile PODs to these areas on Sundays to vaccinate people, alternating locations each week.

Appointments for these Sunday mobile PODs will not go through Othena. Instead, those interested can contact their district supervisor’s office.