(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(BURLINGTON, Mass.) West Virginia has been leading the country in COVID-19 vaccinations in part thanks to technology provided by a Massachusetts-based technology company, according to WCVB.
Everbridge provides notification, alert and messaging technology, which has helped West Virginia officials alert residents instantly for vaccine updates, such as leftover vaccine doses. The seamless communication has helped West Virginia deliver upward of 80% of its allotted COVID-19 vaccines, making the state second only to North Dakota in its success, according to NBC News.
Last month, Brian Toolan, the Everbridge senior director of government strategy, helped set up West Virginia's registration system.
He said, "Technology is going to help speed that process along especially as we get more doses available."
He added, "What we saw was a dramatic shift, from a massive amount of people calling into the call center to now people being able to register."
Toolan explained, "Additionally, on top of that, what we were able to help with is identify where people are, who needs to be vaccinated, so they can strategically put their vaccination centers up."
With that infrastructure in place, the system automatically contacts people to set up appointments, ensuring no extra doses go to waste.
Andy Malinoski, the director of communications and marketing for the West Virginia Department of Commerce, hailed the notification system as one of the linchpins of the state's success.
Malinoski said, "The registration system geo-codes people so that if we find that we have extra doses, we do not waste them," adding, "That is one of the key reasons why we have been successful."
The company hopes other states will take up the system being used in West Virginia after seeing its success with vaccinations.