Getting My Rona Vaccine. Essex County

Thanks All!  Today I took my mother-in-law to the Essex County College location and was able to park in the lot right next to the entrance. She reported that the entire process was very efficient and easy, with lots of staff who were very nice and helpful. They only asked for ID and the QR code which I had printed out for her. Just one thing to note: If you are transporting someone, they exit on the opposite side of the building so do not wait for them at the entrance. They are escorted out by a staff member so its best to meet them at the car. 

Update: Just got the email that all Monday Appts being moved to Sunday, so relieved! 

We just received the message that Monday's appointments are moved to Sunday due to the upcoming storm!  What a relief. I had been plotting various routes from Maplewood to the mall in case the SS's were closed. 

WorkingMom said:

Does anyone know if we can arrive earlier than the scheduled time at the Livingston location? I have an afternoon appointment on Monday but worried that possible snow will trigger an early closing. 

 My experience was, Yes, you can arrive early in Livingston.

We dont care what time you arrive as long as it is the proper date.   

I'm hoping the snow is a mostly-Monday event, so I can negotiate the S curves for my Tuesday vaccine.

I got notice that I am now allowed to get vaccine on Jan 23rd.  Have been trying to get appointment ever since.  This morning, there were appointments available in Elizabeth (Union Country residents only), Branchburg (Somerset County residents only) and Gloucester (83 miles away).  At Essex County, all dates for the next 30 days are booked solid.

Getting pretty frustrated!

Check your PM

We got the word via robo-call (from Joey D) and an email from EssexCOVID that our Sears appointments scheduled for tomorrow the 2nd have been postponed until next Sunday the 7th which is a bit of a relief considering that I was not looking forward to having to negotiate roads tomorrow.

Same here. I got a call last night, then an email this morning. I have to say, the County is handling this pretty well. 

sbenois said:

We dont care what time you arrive as long as it is the proper date.   

 @sbenois - Since you seem to have first-hand knowledge - any intel on how the volunteering is being handled?  Spouse and I put our names in back in December and then emailed more recently based on some subsequent advice.  We got acknowledgement both times, but nothing further.  Are there just many more volunteers than are needed?

There are a lot of volunteers on a list.   You will get contacted by email if you are needed but they are now tending to use people who have done it before because they don't have to train a ton of new volunteers every day.

metaphysician said:

Same here. I got a call last night, then an email this morning. I have to say, the County is handling this pretty well. 

 I got my email and I'm very impressed. I tried to help my ex find a way to get an appointment in Bergen County but they only have the NJCovid site to register. The other option is to get the list of sites and contact each one. 

Heard on the news that Bergen County spent a great deal of money setting up sites but arranging for appointments is messy.

Any updates?  sbenois - do you know what any plans are to up the daily goal if the supply increases?  What would the target max be per day?  Or will they open another center - or maybe drive thrus when it gets warmer.

I will be there tomorrow and see what is new.  I know that they have increased the booths for vaccines to around 30.   In my estimation each booth can do 6 per hour conservatively.  So 180 an hour x N hours should give you an idea of throughput.   The other stations (pre-screening, registration, observation) can scale pretty nicely.   And I know that Joe D is very serious about blasting this thing open beyond 9-5 once there is enough vaccine available.   

Totally depends on 2 high level factors: vaccine availability and volunteer availability...and then below that is the ability to effectively do the behind the scenes work (scheduling people, emails, texts, scheduling volunteers, etc).   But I have enormous confidence in these folks.  Joe D and Maya Lordo (Essex County Health Officer) are taking this ultra seriously.  

I saw this posted on FB -

Folks, here is the story with appointments, just log onto the Essexcovid site Mon-Saturday beginning at 7:55am. Click on the Vaccine Availability link and refresh your browser every 20 seconds. The slots open up between that time and generally 8:10 am. Have your insurance info ready (either your card or simply no is you don't have insurance). Click on the Schedule a Vaccine link. Make sure you use a unique email address. Grab a slot. 

https://www.essexcovid.org/

jamie said:

I saw this posted on FB -

Folks, here is the story with appointments, just log onto the Essexcovid site Mon-Saturday beginning at 7:55am. Click on the Vaccine Availability link and refresh your browser every 20 seconds. The slots open up between that time and generally 8:10 am. Have your insurance info ready (either your card or simply no is you don't have insurance). Click on the Schedule a Vaccine link. Make sure you use a unique email address. Grab a slot. 

https://www.essexcovid.org/

 If you're eligible, obviously.

How are the S curves with the snow?  we  are heading out in about 45 minutes for our vaccines?

EdwardAlbert said:

How are the S curves with the snow?  we  are heading out in about 45 minutes for our vaccines?

 They're fine.  (but you probably found that out by now)  

jamie said:

 They're fine.  (but you probably found that out by now)  

 we did!  they were not a problem.  Vaccine process was easy peasy -- also friendly and informative.  In and out in less than half an hour!

Morganna said:

 I got my email and I'm very impressed. I tried to help my ex find a way to get an appointment in Bergen County but they only have the NJCovid site to register. The other option is to get the list of sites and contact each one. 

Heard on the news that Bergen County spent a great deal of money setting up sites but arranging for appointments is messy.

I agree that Essex County is doing a better job than my experience so far with trying to get an elderly aunt an appointment in Union County. It has been a week of constantly refreshing https://ucnjvaccine.org/ and no appointments at all. 

WorkingMom said:

I agree that Essex County is doing a better job than my experience so far with trying to get an elderly aunt an appointment in Union County. It has been a week of constantly refreshing https://ucnjvaccine.org/ and no appointments at all. 

 I think I got the Tuesday appointment because people cancelled because of the chance of snow. Of course It did snow and that was cancelled, I'm rescheduled for Sunday and now that forecast has gone back and forth on snow for the past few days. I'm hoping it will be open and safe to drive there.

Phone the essexcovid call center today to verify if the shots scheduled for tomorrow have been rescheduled again and if so what the new date will be.  

Watch the website.

jamie...1000+ scheduled for today at Sears.  

sbenois said:

Watch the website.

jamie...1000+ scheduled for today at Sears.  

 I've been calling, trying to get through and checking my email to see if they have cancelled and rescheduled tomorrow's appointments. Have you heard anything?

Just got through and was told there is nothing changed yet and if I try to change to be safe I'll get pushed out to March.

Come in today

Morganna...if u have an appt for tomorrow u can come in today

sbenois said:

Morganna...if u have an appt for tomorrow u can come in today

 Thank you!

sbenois, 

Thank you SO MUCH for the heads-up about being able to go today if scheduled for tomorrow. My wife and I received no notice from EssexCovid in that regard as we were scheduled for tomorrow but now JUST GOT BACK from getting our first shot at the amazing Sears operation. They had zero problem with our appointment actually being for tomorrow.

So, in addition to the great relief of getting the shot, -now I don't have to worry about the snow tomorrow. Whew. Thanks again!

So sorry folks...they just made a change...you can only come in today if your apptment for 2/2 was a second shot.  First shots scheduled for 2/2 cannot come in today.