What to know
- New Jersey residents briefly had access to Hackensack Meridian Health’s vaccine registration portal, despite the limited eligibility so far reserved for healthcare professionals and first responders
- Hackensack Meridian says he will send an email to those who are not yet qualified, stating that their appointments will be canceled
- More than 214,000 people in the state have already been vaccinated with the vaccine, Murphy revealed in his briefing on Monday; about 15,000 of that group received their first and second photos
New Jersey residents began signing up to receive the COVID-19 vaccines over the weekend, except that they shouldn’t be able to do that unless they are health professionals, police, firefighters or first responders.
Hackensack Meridian Health system, the state’s largest hospital system, said on Sunday that its vaccine registration portal was open to anyone with the link, as there was no filter to ensure that those in priority vaccine groups 1A and 1B were the only people who could register.
The registration link somehow started to reach people from other groups and an unknown number of people signed up, according to the hospital’s system.
Hackensack Meridian says it will send an email to those who are not yet qualified stating that their appointments will be canceled.
“We added additional educational information, as well as improved identification requirements to ensure that only those who are entitled to the vaccine receive it, according to New Jersey and federal guidelines,” said Hackensack in a statement to NBC in New York.
Meanwhile, IT engineers are working overnight to put a filter on their registration portal. A hospital spokesman added that no one who was not qualified to receive a dose received an injection at this time.
“We understand that many in our communities are eager to be vaccinated. As soon as it is permitted by state and federal guidelines, we will make the vaccine available to the general public, ”the statement continued.
Governor Phil Murphy announced last week that the police and firefighters were eligible for the vaccine. Healthcare professionals and patients in long-term care facilities continue to receive the highest priority for receiving the vaccine.
More than 214,000 people in the state have already been vaccinated with the vaccine, Murphy revealed in his briefing on Monday. Almost 15,000 of that group received the first and second doses. Health commissioner Judy Persichilli said the goal is to finish vaccinating health professionals and essential professionals – more than 3 million people in all – by May.
The state’s COVID panel has been expanded to show a division across counties, as well as demographic data of the gender, race and ethnicity of New Jersey’s vaccinated population.
Governor Murphy is due to give his state of the state address on Tuesday at 1 pm