It is starting to become easier to make an appointment for the COVID vaccine in New Jersey, now that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available.
Some people who have had consultations for a few weeks in the future can now book early at a different facility, while others have found a chance closer to home.
So, what should you do if you have two appointments?
Experts say that if you have already taken your first dose, you should proceed with the second dose consultation and not try to reschedule it elsewhere.
But, if you have not taken your first dose, it is important to cancel an unnecessary appointment because some people are still unable to set a date and no one wants any doses to be missed.
If you booked your appointment through the New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS), you can contact the call center to cancel your appointment, said Department of Health spokeswoman Dawn Thomas.
This number is (855) 568-0545.
But if you booked through an independent website, you will need to contact that website directly.
Atlantic Health said it wants people to cancel appointments they don’t need.
“Although it does not happen often, cancellation is an important step if the patient is unable to attend the appointment,” said spokesman Luke Margolis. “Cancellation helps to ensure that doses of these scarce vaccines are not wasted and that an unfilled appointment can be offered to someone else.”
To cancel an appointment made through Atlantic, you can use the “MyChart” patient portal. Go to the “Appointment details” screen in the “Future visits” section, he said. Or you can respond to one of the appointment reminder text messages with the word “cancel,” he said.
To cancel a CVS appointment, you must use your confirmation email, said spokeswoman Tara Burke.
“In the confirmation email they received, there is information on how to cancel the appointment,” she said. “They can also call (800) 746-7287.”
Rite Aid said you should call customer service if you need to cancel. The number is (800) RITE AID. He noted that you cannot make an appointment by calling the number.
For appointments made through RWJBarnabas, “individuals who wish to change or cancel their vaccination appointment can simply click on the exclusive link they used to schedule this appointment,” log in and cancel the appointment, said spokeswoman Carrie Cristello.
Hackensack Meridian Health said people can cancel appointments by sending an email to [email protected].
“We just need the patient’s name, date of birth and time / date of his appointment,” said spokesman Benjamin Goldstein. “Canceled appointments are immediately released online for people to attend. They are booked almost immediately. “
If you want to cancel an appointment at Wegmans, you must call the store where you are scheduled directly, said spokeswoman Deana Percassi.
If you are unsure about how to cancel, call the property directly. You can find a list of some, but not all, phone numbers in the state’s list of vaccination locations. You should also check your email confirmations for information on how to contact the property.
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Karin Price Mueller can be contacted at [email protected].