NEW JERSEY – If you are frustrated trying to find out where and when you can get the coronavirus vaccine in New Jersey, you are not alone.
State officials have struggled with a shortage of supplies, daily failures and failures in their COVID-19 vaccination system and confusion over how to secure appointments.
Here is some information on how to get an appointment in New Jersey.
Who is eligible?
- Paid and unpaid health professionals
- Residents and workers of long-term and high-risk care institutions
- Rescuers, including sworn police and firefighters
- People aged 65 and over
- People between the ages of 16 and 64 who have certain medical conditions that increase the risk of serious illness due to COVID-19
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for people aged 16 and over, while the Modern vaccine is recommended for people aged 18 and over.
Where to be vaccinated
Qualified patients can previously register with the state for an appointment. The process may not give you an appointment date right away, but it will put you on a list to alert you when an appointment is available.
Here is a map that shows the vaccination sites near you.
Those who work or volunteer at selected health facilities can make an appointment at the workplace. Veterans who receive care from Veterans Affairs health facilities or live in VA long-term care facilities may be eligible for vaccines through the VA.
Tips and tricks
Patch has put together tips that can help secure vaccine appointments and websites with additional information:
- Join the New Jersey Covid Vaccine Info group on Facebook. The 61,000-member group gives New Jersey residents the opportunity to share up-to-date information on the availability of the vaccine.
- follow VaxxUpdates on Twitter. The page helps Garden State residents ensure vaccination appointments with instant updates on availability.
- CVS and Rite Aid have started scheduling appointments for COVID-19 at the sites that will receive the vaccines. But consultations fill up quickly.
- The CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold opens registration periodically. They will send you a link via email when you are eligible for an appointment.
- See RWJBarnabas Health’s COVID-19 vaccine registration FAQ.
- Acme is not yet administering the COVID vaccines, but now you can sign up on its website to be notified when the vaccine is available in your area.
- ShopRite sometimes has a waiting time to access its vaccine programmer, but allows the public to make appointments.