Ocean Co. Readers Share How To Get A COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — With the expanded list of people eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, there has been a corresponding increase in frustration for those trying to get appointments.

While state officials have said the goal is to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population in New Jersey by the spring, residents trying to get appointments to be vaccinated question whether that goal is achievable.

In Ocean County, the quest for vaccinations was made more difficult when the county received a smaller portion of doses, even as the number of people eligible was expanding.

Ocean County officials have urged people to be patient and keep trying to get an appointment to get vaccinated. But patience is not easy for those who are immune-compromised and for many senior citizens in the face of concerns about a virus that has led to the deaths of nearly 1,600 county residents.

With those concerns in mind, Patch asked readers who've been able to get vaccinated for their tips and suggestions on how people can get appointments. We've compiled the suggestions below.

"Be willing to travel outside the county. Be willing to go anywhere in the state that you can find an appointment. Check availability at numerous locations numerous times a day. Try the hotline that was set up. Do your homework," Jen Paletchev said.

While county-run sites (including the vaccine clinic in Ocean County) are restricted to a county's residents, there are other places that accept anyone who's eligible. The six mega-sites are open to any resident in the state. The mega-site at the Mooretown Mall in Burlington County was recommended by several people as a place they'd been able to find openings.

Several people recommended checking the various sites regularly during the day, but the best times to find appointments seemed to be first thing in the morning, or in the evening.

"I got an appointment at the health department at midnight, whereas my co-workers tried earlier and couldn't get in," Donna Risner said.

Amanda Merhige recommended enabling notifications from the Ocean County Health Department's Facebook page, where the department posts updates. (If you're not sure how to do this, send an email to me at karen.wall@patch.com and I'll provide step-by-step instructions.)

"I found appointments on OCHD and Hackensack Meridian Health but I would check all sites on the NJ Vaccine Locations for Ocean County and also the mega-sites," Merhige said.

Others recommended refreshing the websites repeatedly for updates.

"Try repeatedly and type fast," Sherri Gibbons said.

Keep your insurance information handy as well, so you don't get logged out of the appointment system while you're trying to find it.

"Just got an appointment for Feb 6, not in Mercer County but in Moorestown Mall mega-site," Susan Meyer said. "Nothing available in Mercer County — tried many times. This is like a job."

"Stay on the site and refresh," Anthony Zarrilli said. "Openings happen every day when people cancel or miss appointments."

Some said they had success signing up through the hospital-operated mega-sites. RWJ Barnabas Health is administering vaccines at the Edison site. Virtua is administering shots at the Moorestown Mall, and Hackensack Meridian Health is administering shots at the Bergen County mega-site.

"I signed up directly with RWJ vaccine site about 3 weeks ago," April Lewczak-Echevarria said. "Got a text alert today and made my appointment at the mega-site in Edison."

Those hospital groups also are administering the vaccine at local hospitals. Hackensack Meridian is inoculating people at Ocean Medical Center in Brick and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. RWJ Barnabas hospitals administering shots include Community Medical Center in Toms River and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood.

"We had success in making a vaccine appointment with VNA. Many of our friends have also. Check about 5 minutes after midnight. Lots of space. Disappears around 12:30. https://vnachc.org/" Tom Ellis said.

The state has set up a telephone number — 855-568-0545 — for help with making vaccination appointments, particularly for seniors who do not have internet access. And here is the current link (found here) to register through the state, which connects you to mega-sites.

A Morris County librarian compiled vaccine appointment information for every county in New Jersey, and she includes some helpful tips as well.

In short: Register with multiple vaccine sites, and be persistent about checking for updates.

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