Shore residents in Phase 1A process can make appointment online

Covid-19 cases continue to spike at uncomfortable rates but as the state continues to receive more doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines more people are able to receive that vaccination bringing us one day closer to an end of the pandemic, that is still a ways off.

If you are in Phase 1A, 1B and 1C of the vaccination guidelines then there is now an easier way, that's also digital, to sign up and make an appointment.

In Monmouth County, the Board of Commissioners have launched a Covid-19 scheduling system to make things go smooth in getting to the vaccination appointment.

“Starting today, residents who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can go to the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com and use the online scheduling system to make their appointment,” Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone said in a statement. “We are going to be administering vaccines four days per week in Freehold Borough and three days per week in other locations in the County in an effort to offer as many per day as possible.”

You'll learn the location when making the appointment and the MCHD will then review everything and send you a confirmation email.

“We ask that everyone who is eligible for a vaccine, and does not already have a confirmed appointment, go to the website to schedule their vaccination,” Arnone said. “Appointment times will be added as the County receives additional vaccines, so if there are none available when you log on, please check back frequently.”

So far, Monmouth County has been receiving 500 vaccines per week, for the last three weeks but there's no guarantee of future deliveries as of now.

“Unfortunately, we do not have control over how many vaccines we receive or when we receive them, but we will work tirelessly to distribute all vaccines as soon as they are received by the State and continue to advocate for more vaccines to be given to Monmouth County residents,” Arnone said.

He adds that the county doesn't know when New Jersey Department of Health will allow for the next Phase to begin receiving vaccines.

In Ocean County, there is a clinic for vaccinations set up at the RWJ Barnabas Healthcare Arena in Toms River and in a matter of 8 days, more than 2,000 people have received vaccinations.

“We are off to a fast start as expected and the process has been smooth, efficient and safe,” Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye, said in a statement. "Currently it’s a 6 day operation with clinics Monday through Saturday as we continue providing those individuals eligible to receive the vaccine in the rollout plans first phase.”

Phase 1A is of course underway and has been and in Phase 1B, that round of vaccinations will include teachers, frontline essential workers and individuals over 75, while Phase 1C will include other essential workers, adults 65-74, and persons aged 18-64 with medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19.

Ocean County received their second shipment of vaccination doses in the amount of 3,000 on January 5 which Regenye says will keep the clinic at full operation for the coming weeks but not too much longer.

“We have the capacity to vaccinate 1,500 to 2,000 people a day if we had the additional doses,” Regenye said. “In the meantime, the OCHD continues to ask for people’s patience and to keep up following all the crucial safety measures. We’ve come so far in this pandemic, and while we are now seeing more light at the end of the tunnel with the new vaccine, we just can’t dismiss this second wave and allow it to overwhelm our healthcare system that’s already been stretched so far and thin.”

If you are in Phase 1A, you can head to www.ochd.org for new vaccination clinic hours and appointment availability.

If you are in Phase 1B, 1C & 2, you'll have to wait just a little bit longer for appointments.

“Some of the confusing information that’s out there has to do with the second dose of the vaccine,” Dr. Mukesh Roy, Ocean County Health Department Public Health Planner said in a statement. “Many people are under the impression that the second dose must be administered within a week after the 28 days of the first dose. In actuality, the second dose is a booster shot, and can be scheduled to be received several weeks or even a few months after the 28 days of the initial dose. Residents shouldn’t be concerned about limited availability as more appointments will be scheduled and opened up in the near future."

There are six mega vaccination sites located throughout the state as well:

· Atlantic County: Atlantic City Convention Center

· Bergen County: Racetrack at Meadowlands, East Rutherford

· Burlington County: Moorestown Mall

· Gloucester County: Rowan College of South Jersey, Sewell

· Middlesex County: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison

· Morris County: Rockaway Townsquare

You can pre-register for an appointment at one of the mega sites at https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/

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