NJ's COVID-19 Vaccine Mega Site In Morris County Opens

ROCKAWAY, NJ — The vacant Sears at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall no longer stands empty. One of New Jersey's six "Mega COVID-19 Vaccination Centers" opened Friday in the mall.

As New Jersey navigates the early stages of its vaccination plan, here's what to know about the Rockaway vaccination center:

Who's eligible?

Currently in New Jersey, the following groups are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination:

• all members of Group 1A, which includes health-care workers and direct care givers and residents in longterm-care facilities
• police and fire professionals — the only members of Group 1B who can get vaccinated as of Friday

Since people affiliated with longterm-care facilities will primarily get vaccinated in their homes, the Rockaway center is open to health-care personnel, police and fire professionals.

How many people can get vaccinated there?

Only 100 people will get vaccinated there Friday, but that figure will increase to 1,000 per day. The center will serve about 2,400 people per day, every day once New Jersey has enough vaccines to meet that goal. But it's not immediately clear when that will be.

What's the facility like?

Officials took a tour of the 30,000-square-foot facility Friday morning. Watch the tour below:

Seats are far apart, and the lines have markers to keep people physically distanced. Once people get vaccinated, they must get observed for a minimum of 15 minutes.

There's an emergency medical station in the space in case anyone has a bad reaction to the vaccine.

What geographic area does the site cover?

While the vaccination center is in Morris County, people who live and work in the surrounding area can also use it. Here's where New Jersey will put its other vaccine "mega sites":

• The Meadowlands Complex in East Rutherford, Bergen County.
• The New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, Middlesex County.
• The Moorestown Mall in Moorestown, Burlington County.
• The Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic County.
• Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell, Gloucester County.

How do you pre-register?

Even if you're not eligible to receive a COVID-19 yet, New Jerseyans can pre-register online.

Don't just show up.

No one will be allowed to walk into the Rockaway facility without authorization, and people who show up unannounced won't get vaccinated.