Here’s What Getting A COVID Vaccine At A NJ Mega Center Is Like

NEW JERSEY - Last Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy turned things on their ear by announcing expanded eligibility for residents seeking the COVID-19 vaccine with less than 24-hours notice.

Suddenly people over 65 and those 16-64 with certain medical conditions were able to get their first inoculation.

The news was surprising because New Jersey has taken some heat for administering about half of its available doses. The state also has revamped its priority list a few times and Murphy announces changes with little to no warning. Read more: Gov. Murphy Extends NJ COVID Emergency, Addresses Vaccine Concern

So I was one of the lucky ones. I got my shot on Monday.

Even though I was registered in the state system since Christmas Eve, I took note when Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said local systems are not linked to the one run by the state – and people can actually sign up for shots through other means.

Many of the distribution points "are hospital-based and the hospitals are using their own registration system that they use for their patients every day," she said.

"(It's) a little clunkier than we would like, but ... registration systems that particularly the hospitals are familiar with are up and running, and running well."

So I registered again with Morris County, who partnered through Atlantic Health.

What follows is my experience as a 42-year-old man with qualifying conditions.

Golden Ticket

Registering was mildly confusing as the Morris County site reroutes you to Atlantic Health where you are required to fill out a questionnaire where you answer yes or no to the list of health ailments recently included as eligible.

So my lifelong battle with obesity and fallout from having a brain tumor removed a year ago bought me my chance at the Golden Ticket. I registered with Atlantic Health Thursday morning Jan. 14 and called around a few other places seeking appointments but stopped when Thursday afternoon I received an email informing me some appointments were available.

Clicking the link I was sent to a list of available appointments that appeared set in 15 minute windows.

I chose one for Saturday morning and clicked on continue, where I was asked if I wanted to create a MyChart account or continue as a guest.

Spoiler alert: Make one of these now, or a comparable one in your area for whoever services your region.

I wanted to go as quickly as possible and chose the guest option. By the time I finished putting on my particulars, such as name, address and telephone number, the appointment I’d chosen was gone.

Rather, rinse repeat this process for several sweaty, maddening minutes before I found success on Monday at 9:15 a.m.

On Base

Arriving at the former Sears at the Rockaway Mall Monday morning I felt prepared for my visit. I received a confirmation email and text as well as several reminder texts.

I knew where I was going, when I was going and that I needed my driver’s license and insurance card.

They did not mention the heavy police and military presence that would be there. Outside the old Sears was a large banner identifying the location and there were also law enforcement vehicles as well as uniformed members of the US Army waiting by the door.

As I approached one of those soldiers asked me if I had an appointment, verified my name on the list and then sent me inside where I was greeted by another soldier. This soldier handed me a white card with a barcode on it and told me to walk forward and to the left to take my place in the line.

As I ambled inward I passed Morris County Sheriff James Gannon and a gaggle of his officers at the bottom of the escalator to the right, which was where an emergency response area was set up. It was blessedly empty when I passed and took my place in line.

There were clear markings on the floor to keep groups separate and the typical line queue you would find at a theme park. At several of the turns there were soldiers or Atlantic Health volunteers reminding you to keep your barcode, driver's license and health insurance card handy.

At this point while on the line I attempted to take a few pictures for this story. But I was quickly stopped by the very polite soldier who also handed me a vaccine consent form. The form was for me to peruse while I was on the line and then sign electronically later.

The soldiers were especially personable, talking with people who were equal parts excited and concerned about the vaccine.

For my part, we chatted about one of my passions that's been debated among television pundits, people at the governor's office and even on the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert:" That the region "Central Jersey" doesn't really exist.

Registration

At the end of the line you are sent to a registration table with a plexiglass shield between you and the intake worker and a small slot to slide your documents through. I was at station five, with an employee of Atlantic Health that normally worked in the financial offices but was there to help register people.

There were twice as many registration desks available as were being used, and more room to expand if needed.

During intake, I electronically signed some consent forms and had my palm scanned by a reader connected to the computer terminal there.

Here, I was told that appointments to get a vaccine open up sporadically throughout the day, so those who qualify should keep checking because they do open up and get filled quickly. I texted this information to my wife who was able to secure an appointment for 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

This is consistent with what Persichilli said, noting that emails are sent out in batches when appointments are available at the mega-sites. But not every new appointment triggers an email.

At this point I was told to put my license and insurance card away and proceed to the next soldier at the "end of the carpeted area."

Anywhere You Want It, That's The Way You Need It

The soldier waiting for me had me place my barcode card on top of a Purell dispenser, and then he scanned it. From there I was sent to a vaccination station where my identity was once again confirmed by the nurse about to give me the inoculation.

She asked me where I wanted to receive the shot. Giddy with anticipation I told her that I was left-handed, so I would prefer the right arm. But I also noted I would take the shot directly in an eyeball if that is what it took.

The shot was standard fare, an alcohol swab, a quick pinch and then a bandage across my very hairy upper arms that would later prove painful to remove. From there I was given a sticker with "10:05 a.m." written on it, a vaccination card and was sent to an observation area set up on the other side of the escalator on my way back to the entrance.

Observation Minus The Lounge

I was settled into a seat where a volunteer nurse who works at Robert Wood Johnson, but lives in Long Valley and a local EMT checked on me regularly to see how I was feeling, if I had any reaction and needed to go to the emergency area.

They noted that as of Monday, no one had gone there so far. They also noted that they are doing about 400 vaccinations a day, and are just waiting on supply.

Another soldier with a computer then approached me and immediately scheduled my second vaccine dose. And when I say immediately I received an email and text confirmation before he moved on to the next person.

I passed the remaining 13 minutes making small talk with the others seated there and when my time was up, I turned in my barcode card and exited to the parking lot the way I came in.

After Effects

About an hour after the shot the injection site felt like someone had injected icy hot into it. I purposely didn't take any Tylenol because I wanted to monitor my reaction in order to write about it. I never spiked a fever, and I checked regularly throughout the day and evening, but the burning sensation in my arm gave way to soreness that lasted well into the night.

During the afternoon it was only tender to the touch, by the evening it was tender to move at all. I also was a little fatigued but by the following morning it was mostly gone.

Since the announcement was made I have fielded phone calls and emails from many readers looking to get appointments. The best advice I can give is to register with the state and your county site. For those of you who are not computer savvy or capable, you will need to wait a little longer.

Right now, there is no telephone number to register or make appointments to accommodate senior citizens and others who do not have computer or Internet access.

Persichilli said a call center is in the works and should be up and running within the next two weeks.

The state is also working on plans for mobile vans that will go into underserved communities, with COVID-19 information, vaccine education, and vaccinations. That is anticipated to begin "as soon as we have enough vaccines to move into broader dissemination," Persichilli said.

"At this time demand is much greater than supply so please, we ask the public to be patient. The state is working hard to vaccinate as many eligible people as possible with the available doses that we have," she said.

There is also a distinction between the mega sites and the county sites. There are a number of counties that have put up their own sites and those sites to prioritize their residents first.

Be proactive, be vigilant, and hopefully you will have your golden ticket sooner rather than later.

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