Riverside County apologizes for ‘unacceptable’ vaccine appointment website meltdown

Just hours after thousands of residents experienced massive technical issues while trying to sign up for a vaccine clinic, Riverside County has announced it will change its website.

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The county made 3,900 appointments available Thursday at noon. However when residents went to sign-up, many were met with a blank white "504 error" code page. Others who were able to get into the website filled out pages of registration forms only to find that the appointments had been filled.

Many people called into our newsroom to report these issues. The reaction prompted Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser to notify residents that IT was looking into the issue.

According to the county, the issue was caused by a glitch in the website code.

"Residents are understandably frustrated that the appointment website did not perform today," said Juan C. Perez, Interim County Executive Officer. "While we worked with our vendor to ensure it would be operational today, unfortunately, it was not. Frankly, that's unacceptable. We apologize for this unfortunate situation and will soon direct residents to a new website."

County officials said a new link will be announced soon for residents to sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Officials noted that when appointments are open, the new county site will continue to link to the state’s vaccine registration portal.

"If all appointments are booked when completing the state’s registration, users will not be able to secure a time," reads the county statement.

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.

In Riverside County, people 65 years and older are able to get their coronavirus vaccine, along with adults of all ages if they work in education, law enforcement, food and agriculture, and emergency services.

That group makes up Phase 1B in the county's vaccine distribution framework. People in all tiers of Phase 1A can also be vaccinated.

• For employees in Phase 1A and 1B – Tier 1, an appointment and employee ID badge/letter from place of employment required or you will not be vaccinated
• For those 65 years and older, an appointment and ID is required.

The clinics will provide vaccines free of charge but medical insurance information will be requested.

San Bernardino County residents 65 & older now eligible to receive COVID vaccine

"This is important news to so many of our residents who are eager to be vaccinated,'' Supervisor Karen Spiegel said. "We also ask for your patience. We continue to have very limited vaccine quantities and a high demand within the community for it. The county is distributing vaccine as quickly as we receive it.''

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Have any questions about the vaccine? We teamed up with local health experts to answer viewer-submitted questions. Watch below: