Microsoft vaccine scheduling software deal ended by Iowa

Microsoft hit another snag in selling its services to aid the American coronavirus vaccine rollout, as Iowa backed out of a plan to use its software. — AFP

Iowa is backing out of a plan to use Microsoft Corp. software for registering patients and scheduling Covid-19 vaccinations, the latest challenge to the software giant’s efforts to make money helping states overwhelmed with residents looking for shots.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the change of heart in a press conference Wednesday, saying state officials concluded it would be too hard to combine existing scheduling systems and were trying to avoid disruptions.

The state will instead focus on bolstering its current systems. Just last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and members of his administration complained about significant glitches in that state’s Microsoft-built vaccination scheduling system.