NEW JERSEY – If you’re frustrated trying to figure out where and when you can get the coronavirus vaccine in New Jersey, you are not alone.
Government officials have struggled with a shortage, daily mistakes and accidents in the COVID-19 vaccination system and confusion over how to secure appointments.
Here’s some information on securing an appointment in New Jersey.
Who is eligible?
- Paid and unpaid health workers
- Residents and workers of long-term care facilities and high risks
- First responders, including sworn law enforcers and professionals
- People 65 and older
- People between the ages of 16-64 who have certain medical conditions that increase the risk of serious diseases due to COVID-19
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for people 16 years and older, while the Moderna vaccine is recommended for people 18 and older.
Where to get vaccinated
Eligible patients can pre-register by the state for an appointment. The process may not give you an appointment date right away, but will put you on a list to alert you when an appointment is available.
Here is a map that will show vaccination centers near you.
Those who work at select health care facilities or volunteer can make an appointment through their workplace. Veterans who are admitted by veteran health institutes or live in long-term care facilities in VA can get vaccinations through the VA.
Tips and tricks
Patch has collected tips that can help secure vaccines and websites with additional information:
- Join the New Jersey Covid Vaccine Info Facebook group. The 61,000-member group gives New Jersey residents the opportunity to stay informed about vaccine availability.
- Follow VaxxUpdates on Twitter. The page helps Garden State residents secure vaccine appointments with immediate updates on availability.
- CVS and Rite Aid have begun planning COVID-19 appointments at sites that will receive vaccines. But appointments fill up quickly.
- CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold opens regular registration. They will email you a link if you are eligible for an appointment.
- Consult the questions on COVID-19 for registration of vaccines from RWJBarnabas Health.
- Acme does not yet do COVID vaccinations, but you can now log on to their website to be informed when the vaccine is available in your area.
- ShopRite sometimes has a waiting period to access its vaccination scheduler, but it allows the public to make appointments.