New Jersey state health officials apologized Friday after a glitch in the vaccine scheduling system double-booked some appointments, resulting in a very long line at a vaccine mega site.
This COVID vaccine mega-site is plagued with problems. Here’s what went wrong.
Updated Jan 30, 2021;
Posted Jan 30, 2021
A line forms at the new Gloucester County COVID-19 vaccination site in Sewell, N.J. on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.
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Gloucester County officials say they have a track record of tackling big projects and delivering results. But, as a partner running one of the state’s six COVID vaccine mega-sites, the only one not attached to a healthcare system, the roll-out has been catastrophic. And that’s using the county’s words.
Residents throughout New Jersey, some of whom have driven across the state to get a coveted appointment, have been livid, enduring an exasperating saga of setbacks and stumbling blocks. First, it was the limited supply. Then, no way to schedule the crucial second appointment. And finally, yesterday’s nadir: double-booked appointments.
One woman’s relentless pursuit to find a COVID vaccine in N.J.
Updated Jan 30, 2021;
Posted Jan 30, 2021
After trying hundreds of time to get a vaccine appointment, Denise Matthews decided to take her chances as a walk-in. She is pictured here with her two sons.
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But when she learned she wouldn’t automatically get an appointment, she went hunting for one on her own. She hopscotched from one vaccine website to the next website, during the day and in the middle of the night.
“I was like: I can’t do this anymore. I’m so anxious. My heart was always racing,” said Matthews, 64, who is eligible for the vaccine because she survived two heart attacks. “I said this was ridiculous. I’m going to kill myself with another heart attack.”
How N.J. screwed up its plan to make scheduling a COVID vaccine easier
Updated Jan 30, 2021;
Posted Jan 30, 2021
After receiving the vaccine at the Rowan Medicine COVID-19 Vaccination Center, patients are seated in the spaced-out chairs for 15 minutes to be monitored for any possible reaction Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. The clinic is at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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When state officials launched the statewide COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system Jan. 5, it sounded promising. Register with some basic information and when you become eligible you’ll be notified and sent a link to the state’s dashboard where you can make an appointment.