VaxSpotter
A web application to help identify open and available Covid-19 vaccine appointments in San Diego county. Built during the critical early phase of vaccine rollout, VaxSpotter aggregated appointment availability across multiple pharmacy systems to help underserved communities access vaccines. Featured in local news media including KPBS and Channel 10 News.
Overview
VaxSpotter was developed in early 2021 during the critical COVID-19 vaccine rollout period when appointment availability was extremely limited. The application automatically monitored and aggregated vaccine appointment data from multiple pharmacy chains and healthcare systems across San Diego County, making it easier for residents to find available appointments.
Impact
The project gained significant community traction and media attention:
- Helped thousands of San Diego residents find vaccine appointments during the shortage
- Featured on KPBS and Channel 10 News discussing the challenges of vaccine access
- Designed to be adaptable for other counties and regions
Technical Implementation
- Ruby on Rails backend for data aggregation and API management
- Tailwind CSS for responsive, mobile-first design
- Real-time appointment monitoring across multiple pharmacy APIs
- Twitter integration for automated availability notifications
- Optimized for accessibility and mobile devices
This project was developed as a rapid response to the COVID-19 vaccine shortage crisis, demonstrating how technology can help address critical public health challenges and improve healthcare access in underserved communities.