New Jersey Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Finder

NEW JERSEY - The Garden State added another tool in the box to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is a beta version of an Appointment Finder is live and ready to use, according to Governor Phil Murphy.

"This new tool aggregates information across multiple scheduling platforms, multiple times an hour letting you know when appointments are open and letting you know how you can make one for yourself,"Murphy said at his COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday. "Appointments are still limited, especially so mid to late week."

To date, New Jersey ranks 3rd in vaccine supply administered at 88.4 percent, 8th in daily doses administered, at 93,733, and 8th in percentage of population having received at least one dose, at 32.7 percent, when compared to other states.

But Murphy also noted that as impressive as these numbers are, it does not help the very frustrated residents who have not been able to get a vaccination appointment.

"We will continue to test and make improvements to the appointment finder, and we will welcome your input in this ongoing effort, he said.

This week, New Jersey is expected to receive 494,430 doses, a "nearly 20 percent" increase week over week, according to Murphy.

Starting Monday, additional frontline essential workers are eligible to book vaccine appointments:

• Food production, agriculture and food distribution (including grocery store and restaurant workers)
• Eldercare and support
• Warehousing and logistics
• Social services support staff
• Elections personnel
• Hospitality
• Medical supply chain
• Postal and shipping services
• Clergy
• Judicial system

Who's already eligible?

• Paid and unpaid healthcare workers
• Residents and workers of long-term care and high-risk congregate care facilities
• First responders including sworn law enforcement and fire professionals
• Individuals aged over 65
• Individuals aged 16-64 that have certain medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus
• Pre-K to 12 educators and staff
• Childcare workers in licensed and registered settings
• Transportation workers
• Additional high-risk individuals
• Additional public safety workers

Who becomes eligible April 5?

• Individuals 55 and over
• Individuals ages 16 and up with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Educators, including support staff, in higher education settings
• Communications infrastructure support, including engineers, and technicians and members of the press
• Real estate, building, and home service workers, including construction workers, code officials, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, property management and maintenance workers
• Retail financial institution workers, including bank tellers, lending services, public accounting and check-cashing workers
• Sanitation workers providing disinfection and janitorial services, city sanitation workers; residential, commercial, and industrial solid and hazardous waste removal workers
• Laundry service workers, including those working in laundromats, laundry services and dry cleaners
• Utility workers including electrical generation and supply system, natural gas delivery, nuclear power plant, water supply, telephone and cable/fiber/optical/broadband/cellular service workers
• Librarians and support staff at municipal, county and state libraries

Other Ways To Find Appointments

Patch has gathered tips that may help for securing vaccine appointments and websites with additional information:

• Join the New Jersey Covid Vaccine Info Facebook group. The 61,000-member group gives New Jerseyans the opportunity to share up-to-date information on vaccine availability.
• Follow VaxxUpdates on Twitter. The page helps Garden State residents secure vaccine appointments with instant updates on availability.
• CVS and Rite Aid began scheduling COVID-19 appointments at locations that will receive vaccines. But appointments fill up quickly. CVS, Rite Aid and Walmart have expanded their number of sites. Read more: CVS Adding 30 COVID-19 Vaccine Sites In New Jersey
• CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold periodically opens registration. They will email a link when you're eligible for an appointment.
• Check out the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration FAQ from RWJBarnabas Health.
You can sign up at their website to be alerted when the vaccine becomes available in your area.
• ShopRite sometimes has a wait time to access its vaccine scheduler, but it allows the public to make appointments.

For more vaccine information, visit our New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccination Hub.

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