NJ COVID Vaccine Doses Near 1M But Appointments Are 'Booked'

NEW JERSEY - Gov. Phil Murphy said at his COVID-19 briefing on Friday that 925,579 vaccinations have been administered as of mid-morning. But even as New Jersey is celebrating that it's getting very close to the 1 million mark for doses, officials acknowledged that appointments are essentially "booked."

Supply is still being eclipsed by demand and state officials are hoping that the Biden administration and the companies providing the vaccines will assist in providing more doses next week.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said she expects an uptick in supply next week. Because of the limited supply, however, she acknowledged that, for many people who are trying through the state system, "there are no appointments available for weeks and weeks."

"People are getting frustrated because they're getting the alert that their eligible, that they'll get a notice for an appointment," she said. "All the appointments are booked."

According to Murphy, those numbers break down as 745,552 first doses and 179,956 second doses. Murphy said that the vaccine efforts continue to pick up steam across the state and that in the past week:

The number of initial doses has increased by more than 135,400, a 22 percent increase
Number of residents who have now received both doses has grown by 69,258, a 63 percent increase

"If you go back two weeks, the number of folks in New Jersey who have gotten their second doses has nearly tripled," Murphy said. "And we’ve only been administering second doses for about four weeks. We’re seeing a clear and sustaining growth pattern."

Murphy also noted that as supply grows so will the list of those eligible.

"As our vaccine supply increases, we know we’ll be able to put more people into the queue," he said. "At the head of this list are our educators, so we can support our school districts in moving quickly toward an in-person learning environment."

The vaccine news came as 3,723 new positive PCR tests were reported bringing the total to 637,537. Other COVID numbers from Friday included:

• 712 new positive antigen tests
• 75,967 total antigen tests
• The positivity rate for all PCR tests recorded on February 1st was 6.83 percent – based on 17,884 PCR tests.
• The statewide rate of transmission is 0.92.

As of Thursday night:

• 2,916 patients in our hospitals
• 515 patients in our ICUs
• 342 ventilators in use
• 436 patients discharged
• 377 COVID-positive patients admitted
• 54 in-hospital deaths

There were also an additional 93 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, bringing the cumulative total of confirmed deaths to 19,699. The number of probable deaths has been adjusted to 2,187, officials said.

Persichilli noted that the six vaccine mega-sites hit a milestone over the last week, inoculating 10,000 people. She also noted that there will be new updates coming through the state-run vaccination site with emails coming notifying those enrolled when they are eligible, when they can make an appointment and what other options for vaccinations are available to them.

It All Starts At The Top

While there is no requirement to register with the Garden State in order to get a vaccine, it does open up more options to chase down the small supply available. Registering with the state site can be done through their website.

Those registered will receive an email from the state identifying what category they fall in. Currently, the New Jersey is vaccinating 1a and some 1b. This email alone provides nothing but information.

A second email from the state will give you a link to their scheduling system. But this is only for some state-run sites. Those who chose can sign up with outside agencies for a vaccine such as ShopRite, Atlantic Health, CVS, depending on where they live.

In all cases once the link is received it is a matter of constantly checking throughout the day. New Jersey also has a phone line to help with vaccine scheduling questions. The number is 1-855-568-0545.

Specific Locations

Acme Pharmacy

Acme is not doing COVID vaccines yet, but you can now sign up at their website to be alerted when the vaccine becomes available in your area.

ShopRite

The site is well-traveled and there is a wait to even access the site. Users are limited to searching by zip code which then defaults to a 10-mile radius search. So it is good to have some alternate zip codes available.

You can access their website for more information or call 856-627-8137 for more information.

Atlantic Health

Is asking for people to sign up for appointment alerts on their website, and then they will reach out to eligible folks in the order of their sign-up, when they have vaccine, so they can book an appointment. This solution is much more able to handle the incredible volume of folks actively looking for an appointment than the mychart option, which is used system wide for the scheduling of appointments of many types across the system, officials said.

Hackensack Meridian Health

While the website says you must be a patient, there are reports of several people who have gone to their various sites in northern New Jersey. You can try your luck through their registration process

RWJ/Barnabas

Prospective patients must register first to be on the RWJBarnabas vaccine list. Once you have registered you will be contacted on how to proceed.

Summit Medical Group

The Summit Medical Group is only vaccinating current patients. Those who qualify will receive, and have received, emails when vaccination appointments are available.

County Clusters

Atlantic County

Sign up to get an appointment at the Atlantic County megacenter through the website.

Bergen County

The Bergen County Megasite at the Meadowlands is administrated by Hackensack Meridian. Registration is done through their website.

Valley Health Systems also has their own registration portal on their website.

Burlington/ Camden County Megasite

The Moorestown site was chosen due to its proximity to Camden County. Anyone in the region can set up an appointment through the website and complete the form.

Camden County

CAMCare Health Org is taking calls at 856-583-2400.

Camden County is administering vaccines through Cooper Health and scheduling happens on their website.

Riverside Medical Group is asking established patients to register through their website.

Rowan Megasite can be accessed by registering through their website.

Cape May County

Register with the state site.

Cumberland County

To register for a vaccine in Cumberland County visit the website.

Essex County

You must be an Essex County resident or work in Essex County (part-time work is ok) to register for a vaccine in Essex County.

To register for their many locations, visit the website.

Essex County does have a help line to answer general questions about locations and how to sign up: 973-877-8456

Gloucester County

The Gloucester County Mega Vaccination Center is located at the Rowan College of South Jersey, Gloucester Campus at 1400 Tanyard Road in Sewell. To sign up for a vaccine use the state registration site. You will get an email telling you when you can try to set up an appointment.

Hudson County

The Hudson County COVID-19 vaccination site is located at the USS Juneau Center at 110 Hackensack Avenue in Kearny. This is a drive-thru site. You must remain in your vehicle in order to receive the vaccination. Advance registration for an appointment is required through the website.

Hunterdon County

Hunterdon Medical Center has a phone appointment system with priority is given to people who live or work in Hunterdon County. The number is (908) 237-4238 select option 3 to schedule. Appointments are contingent on vaccine availability.

The link to the County site for registration can be found on their website.

Mercer County

Mercer County vaccination sites are using the state of New Jersey vaccine registry (NJVSS) system to schedule residents for vaccines.

Middlesex County

Middlesex megasite is located in Edison at the NJ Convention and Exhibition Hall located at 97 Sunfield Ave. Qualified individuals can complete a vaccine registration form on RWJ BarnabasHealth’s website.

Monmouth County

To get on the Monmouth County waitlist sign up on the website.

CHEMed offers the Moderna vaccine when available at 732-523-7955.

Morris County

The options are to sign up on Atlantic Health's site to get an alert to be invited to try for a vaccine appointment or try going through ShopRite.

Riverside Medical Group at 501 State Route 10, Ledgewood is also giving inoculations.

Ocean County

CHEMed in Lakewood can be reached at 732-523-7955 or on their website.

Long Beach Island Health Department can be contacted on their website.

Passaic County

Those who live or in Passaic County can access the registration portal online.

Salem County

Check the Salem County Dept. of Health website for availability through their website.

https://health.salemcountynj.g...

Somerset County

If you live or work in Somerset County schedule a vaccine through their website.

Sussex County

To make an appointment for the Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, drive through site visit the website. There does not appear to be a residency requirement.

Union County

To access Union County sign up visit the website.

Warren County

You must live, work, or go to school in Warren County to be able to receive a vaccination from a Warren County government vaccination clinic.

These sites are in Warren County but aren't part of the county system-

Hunterdon Family Medicine @Riverfield Washington, NJ 908-237-4238

St. Luke's Hosp. Phillipsburg to access vaccine appointment visit the website.

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