I hung up the phone and shook my head.

A recording on a COVID-19 vaccine telephone hot line for folks without Internet access just told me to check their website for available appointments. Uh ... no.

Observing and participating in the scheduling process for this highly-sought-after shot of hope made me aware of how intimidating and chaotic the registration process is.

Personally, I spent more than three weeks trying to get an appointment for myself and, finally, I received my first dose in mid-February.

A number of older people I know are not connected to the Internet and are not adept at using, let alone even owning, a computer or smartphone.

Because of this digital divide, a lot of elderly people who should be getting the vaccine are marginalized.

The whole vaccine rollout program has highlighted the shortcomings of our health care system.

In essence, it is inequitable. Some folks have easy access to care, others do not.

Many older, lower income or nonwhite residents face difficulties in accessing the health care that other people simply take for granted.

Technological obstacles built into the current vaccine registration process make scheduling very complicated, tedious and disappointing.

Trying to get on a list is cumbersome and frustrating, to say the least, and often is futile, as well.

There are dozens of websites to check - state, local, hospitals, pharmacies, grocery store chains - each with different sign-up protocols.

Most local venues offering the vaccine require online registration.

Those that do offer telephone hot lines often have jammed phone lines, long wait times or recordings directing callers to a website.

Perhaps my research and experiences will help to ease the annoyance of older readers still trying to navigate the system to secure vaccine appointments.

Typically the best news is saved for last, but, to be different, I will present my best experience first.

By far the most helpful personnel and process for scheduling the vaccine by phone is the Allentown Health Bureau’s hot line: 610-890-7069.

Callers wishing to snag an appointment must live in Lehigh County.

This agency truly knocks down barriers for people who do not have the Internet.

A call to the health bureau hot line, which is staffed 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, may result in a long wait, but with patience, appointments can be secured.

One friend said she was on hold for more than two hours before she spoke with someone who scheduled her vaccine appointment.

Personally, I had no luck with the local hospitals.

Callers are urged to create an online portal to schedule their vaccines.

Lehigh Valley Health Network does have a telephone hotline 1-833-584-6283 for people without Internet access, but whenever I tried to get through, a recording said new appointments were not being scheduled currently due to a lack of vaccine supply.

However, two of my friends were able to make their appointments through the LVHN hotline, so success is possible.

Try calling shortly after midnight, when new appointment slots often become available.

St. Luke’s University Health Network also has a vaccine scheduling hotline 1-866-785-8537, but a recording informs callers that new appointments are not being scheduled now due to lack of vaccine supply.

Pharmacy chains make no provision for scheduling vaccines by phone.

All require appointments to be made online.

Weis grocery stores also do not accept telephone registration for the vaccine, even when told some older folks do not have computer access.

A pharmacy employee just shrugged and said, “Sorry.”

For customers without the Internet, Wegmans has a telephone hotline 1-800-207-6099 to schedule vaccine appointments, but whenever I called, a recorded message said all available appointments have been scheduled.

The voice then invites callers (presumably without computers) to visit their website to check availability!

A very complicated, labor-intensive tech platform is not the way to reach senior adults or low-income communities, those who are most vulnerable and most in need of the vaccine.

The system needs fixing. Simplify the process.

To do otherwise amounts to neglect.