Scientists have produced Covid-19 vaccines in record time. But the digital connectivity needed to closely track doses, side effects, and continuing infections is still lagging behind — even though the technology is now widely available.
This paradox of the pandemic was on display Tuesday during a meeting hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services. An official with the U.S. Digital Service said site visits to public health agencies around the country in recent months revealed a heavy reliance on paper documents and fax machines to collect and share data on Covid-19 tests.
“What we found was really heartbreaking,” Amy Gleason, an official with the USDS said of the site visits across six states. “We realized they just needed a little help with technology.”
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