1/7 This https://Twitter.com  website can occasionally be used to create some wondrous things.

Tonight, it fostered an idea that resulted in the creation of a tool — that can allow people to find the closest vaccine clinic to them by sending out a simple text. #covidontario

2/7 Earlier, I RT'd @JProskowGlobal, who highlighted a vaccine-clinic search tool only available in the US. 

The concept is simple: you text your postal code to a number and it replies with vaccine clinics nearby.

Yet, Canada doesn't have this tool. https://twitter.com/JProskowGlobal/status/1388218955005845516?s=20

Without missing a beat, @ZainManji replied — offering to build one for Ontario.

I assumed it would take a few days.

I even asked if he was up for an interview on his new creation as early as Monday, thinking it would probably need more time than that. https://twitter.com/ZainManji/status/1388219988234752001?s=20

Nope.

Just a few minutes later, he says it won't take him long. Ready to whip it up in LESS THAN AN HOUR.

This was at around 5:30 pm TODAY. https://twitter.com/ZainManji/status/1388220736821620737?s=20

5/7 Around 8:30 pm, he DMs me (yes, it took about 2-3 hours instead of less than an hour, but let's not hold it against him, shall we?)

He says the app is ready and provides a phone number I should text to try it out.

6/7 I put in our office's postal code and lo and behold, it works PERFECTLY.

7/7 So in conclusion: @ZainManji built something that we were all impressed the US government could build and that Canada hadn't thought of... in under 3 hours! Thanks Zain!

Now everyone try this number: +1 (833) 356-1683

#onpoli #covidontario

Forgot to number a couple of tweets in this thread. Amateur-hour ova here.

3 hours after it launched, the app received so much traffic that it has (temporarily) hit a snag.

Zain said he’s working on fixing it — and I have no doubt that he will.