Instead of people hanging around outside of pharmacies waiting for a lucky shot, the state’s system alerts people nearby when leftover doses are available.
If you live in West Virginia and sign up on a new platform to be on standby for the COVID-19 vaccine, you’ll have a chance to make an appointment when doses are available for your priority group. But the system, rolled out on January 25, goes a step further: If someone doesn’t show up for an appointment, or if pharmacists are able to squeeze extra doses from vials, the platform can instantly contact the next eligible people on the list.