If one were asked to provide an example to illustrate the words “asinine” and “ludicrous,” he or she would have to look no further than Barrington’s first attempt to vaccinate its elderly population. 

On Thursday, Jan. 28, Barrington residents were alerted that the town had received 47 doses of the vaccine to distribute to its residents aged 75 or older. There are more than 1,000 people in this category in the town.

In order to reserve a dose, qualified people were required to call one phone number at the Peck Center. Our family tried to call more than 60 times but never got through (as the other 1,000 people were probably also trying to call the same single number). Frustrating, time-consuming (we are not retired), and unproductive for the 953 plus people whose phone calls were not answered, this distribution method must be improved.

In many other states, people can make their vaccination appointments online. This would be preferable, even if the appointment turned out to be a date in April. At least it would be definite and something to plan on and look forward to. Alternatively, there could be a lottery system whereby people who were randomly chosen (to be fair) would be notified. Emergency planners at the state level should be able to think of other equitable methods of distribution, as this current method is absurd.

Dan and Cindy Kaplan

Barrington