Getting My Rona Vaccine. Essex County

So, Uncle Joe sends out a phone blast telling everyone to go to EssexCOVOD.org and sign up for getting the vaccine. I do this and on 12/27. I get an appointment for Wed., Dec. 30th at noon. This is followed by a text saying "Our team will review your submission. You will receive a message as soon as possible that explains the next step you should take."

So I wait and I wait for the "next step" information. Monday, no follow up. Tuesday at 1:00 p.m., no message. Telephone? Don't be silly. Nobody answers the phone. So I drive there and walk in. There are about 15 people there, decked out in plastic aprons. No one in the facility is to be seen there, getting the vaccine. There are stanchions and ropes to direct a crowd of people into a line... kind of like a queue at motor vehicles or a bank. Except there is no one in the queue line: It is empty. There are about 15 rows of these stanchions. No one is waiting in line.

Next,  I get directed to a desk where two people are at a computer. I explain my problem, that I am supposed to get vaccinated tomorrow and I am supposed to get a "message" and I have received no information.

One person on side of the computer section explains to the computer people that nobody is following up with the people who are scheduled to get the vaccine.

Then, the computer person confirms my appointment for tomorrow at noon. But don't worry, I can show up any time during the day.

The moral of this story: If you have an appointment for vaccine, don't expect any further information. Just show up.

 


They are doing vaccines outside medical settings already?  I thought they were still just being given in nursing homes and hospitals at this point for people living or working in those facilities.


I do not have a reliable source for this information. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could verify. From what I have read on social media, when appointments first opened at Sears, they were open to everyone, first come, first served. This quickly changed and it is no longer possible to get a vaccine appointment there at this time unless you are classified as a health care worker.  


Go to essexcovid.org. There is information there about scheduling an appointment. 

Right now they are taking appointments for health care workers. There are screening questions when you try to set up an appointment. Yesterday I was able to set up my appointment for today. The email with details came overnight, and it shows my appointment time for today, as well as the second shot in a month.

We received a flyer in the mail two days ago with information.


For now, they are scheduling and vaccinating group 1A people only.

I got the first part of the Moderna vac yesterday.  I was able to get it done at a place on the Jersey Shore.  I did sign up on the Essex County web site but they have yet to get back to me with a date, although a number of my fellow first aid squad members have been scheduled and injected already at the Livingston Sears location (I will cancel my registration with Essex Co. so that someone else gets my slot, assuming they would eventually get back to me with a slot).

No pain, no side effects so far.


taken from the Livingston patch.


Those who are eligible to receive the vaccine first are paid and unpaid healthcare workers who may have contact with infected patients or infectious materials and people who are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, including those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health issues.


Jaytee said:

taken from the Livingston patch.


Those who are eligible to receive the vaccine first are paid and unpaid healthcare workers who may have contact with infected patients or infectious materials and people who are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, including those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health issues.

 That's kind of misleading, as it implies that people over 65 can get vaccinated now. Bub's link says otherwise.

From the link:

Right now, New Jersey is vaccinating the 1A group, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff.

Category 1B is next. People who fall into Category 1B include those 75 and older as well as front-line essential workers. Essential workers include grocery store workers and UPS, FedEx and Amazon delivery drivers and other delivery drivers, such as truckers.

The next category of individuals, Category 1C, are adults 65 and over and adults with underlying medical conditions.

Persichilli said the state of New Jersey wanted to address that many of these front-line workers are people of color, and also lower-income.

"Once we move through 1A, we will move to 1B and that includes people essential to the functioning of society and are at a substantially higher risk," she said. "New Jersey recognizes that those unable to work from home have the highest exposure risk. Racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately represented in many essential industries. Twenty five percent of New Jersey's essential workers live in low-income communities," she added.


A big variable here is whether and when other vaccines get approved and come on line, particularly J&J's.  I understand, once approved, J&J could knock out a billion doses in its sleep.  J&J seems to be aiming for approval in February.


drummerboy said:

 That's kind of misleading, as it implies that people over 65 can get vaccinated now. Bub's link says otherwise.

From the link:

Right now, New Jersey is vaccinating the 1A group, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff.

Category 1B is next. People who fall into Category 1B include those 75 and older as well as front-line essential workers. Essential workers include grocery store workers and UPS, FedEx and Amazon delivery drivers and other delivery drivers, such as truckers.

The next category of individuals, Category 1C, are adults 65 and over and adults with underlying medical conditions.

Persichilli said the state of New Jersey wanted to address that many of these front-line workers are people of color, and also lower-income.

"Once we move through 1A, we will move to 1B and that includes people essential to the functioning of society and are at a substantially higher risk," she said. "New Jersey recognizes that those unable to work from home have the highest exposure risk. Racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately represented in many essential industries. Twenty five percent of New Jersey's essential workers live in low-income communities," she added.

 I thought so as well, maybe jersey jack got the same misleading information? 


The sign up web sites could be more informative.  I told my wife to sign up with Essex even though she's not in any special group, thinking it might be first come first serve once they start giving appointments. Only after she filled out the whole thing did they reply that the regular folks could not register yet.  The sites should say something right up front, in bold, about who can register and when.

I have such a dim view of the Joe D. Essex County political machine that the fact I was able to push an on-line application through for myself and get a response (albeit not an appointment) impressed me.


I got this in a email from Maplewood Recreation Department 9 days ago: https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif3396/f/uploads/covidvaccineoverviewfinal.pdf 

It clearly lays out who is eligible for vaccination and who isn’t. Please don’t just “show up”. 


ridski said:

I got this in a email from Maplewood Recreation Department 9 days ago: https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif3396/f/uploads/covidvaccineoverviewfinal.pdf 

It clearly lays out who is eligible for vaccination and who isn’t. Please don’t just “show up”. 

South Orange has the same info on its website. I just emailed Sheena to advise her that the information is not correct - people 75+ are now in group 1B. 

https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/how-will-new-jersey-distribute-a-covid-19-vaccine-is-there-a-plan

eta - I just received a response back from Sheena (she's fast) that she would notify the OEM Coordinator. 

 

 


the essex cty website has you answer questions-it would not let me sign up ( which is correct)


When I first got the link for "essexcovid.org" (as pictured above by mrincredible) I was pretty impressed by how clearly the information was laid out and without a lot of gibberish.

I fall into category 1C as I am over 65 and have no other qualifications for it. Frankly, I'm delighted to think that I will possibly be able to get the vaccine in a week or two as I have for months now been operating under the assumption that it might take well into spring.

I look forward to feeling like a survivor pulled up into the lifeboat.


so at age 62 and 1/2 I am lumped in with the 16-64 age group  ( I want my shot!)

why not 55-65?


cramer said:

ridski said:

I got this in a email from Maplewood Recreation Department 9 days ago: https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif3396/f/uploads/covidvaccineoverviewfinal.pdf 

It clearly lays out who is eligible for vaccination and who isn’t. Please don’t just “show up”. 

South Orange has the same info on its website. I just emailed Sheena to advise her that the information is not correct - people 75+ are now in group 1B. 

https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/how-will-new-jersey-distribute-a-covid-19-vaccine-is-there-a-plan

eta - I just received a response back from Sheena (she's fast) that she would notify the OEM Coordinator. 

 

 

This is the reponse from the OEM Coordinator: 

"So the county is doing 65+ (as of now at least) for phase 1B. Unfortunately almost every state site says something different. The actual official definition from the department of health (as of 12/28) says "Definition in Process" for phases 1B and 1C. So we'll continue monitoring the sites and update as information becomes available."  

 


I’m technically in 1B, as I work in education, but I’m working from home permanently now and I’m very low risk, so I’m willing to wait for mine.


Place the blame where it should lie -- the Federal Government.

The government has provided almost zero funding for distribution.  The government has provided almost zero support for distribution.  The administration has delegated the entire process to the states without guidelines, infrastructure support, financial support, or any direction. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-tells-states-get-moving-as-bidens-covid-adviser-calls-vaccine-rollout-a-failure/ar-BB1cm4MA

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/12/23/nj-covid-vaccine-here-but-much-has-done-promote-track/4015382001/


Jaytee said:

 I thought so as well, maybe jersey jack got the same misleading information? 

 N.J. got his vaccination at 10:30 this morning.  2nd dose, 1/27.


My complaint is that once you register, you receive a text telling to wait for further instructions. 

The further instructions never come



the process this morning took about 30 minutes, including the 15 minute sit down th wait if you get an adverse reaction.


How did you get the shot without an appointment?


He had an appointment. 

I went through the same process but I got an email with instructions when and where to go. Jerseyjack maybe check your spam folder? This is definitely NOT a **** show. More like a shot show.

I hope they move to the next groups soon. It's not very busy here, they appear to have plenty more capacity. (I'm in the 15-minute waiting period now).


It was a very professional operation but I had a much longer wait where I went for the shot on the Jersey Shore (Neptune).  More than 90 minutes.  Hopefully, they'll have some more people giving the shots when I go for the 2nd one.  


bub said:

It was a very professional operation but I had a much longer wait where I went for the shot on the Jersey Shore (Neptune).  More than 90 minutes.  Hopefully, they'll have some more people giving the shots when I go for the 2nd one.  

My impression from Sheena Collum's posts  on Facebook is that the response to the request for volunteers by Sheena and Frank McGehee has been phenominal and there is no shortage of volunteers. Some of the volunteers have complimented the county on well the operation is going. 


I expect to volunteer after the vaccine becomes effective. -- about 1 month.


Formerlyjerseyjack said:

I expect to volunteer after the vaccine becomes effective. -- about 1 month.

 so you can get 1a designation by expecting to volunteer and get the vaccine before people who have to be at work or are high risk in the 1C group?  even if you are not actively volunteering?  It sounded like they said they only had 15K of the original 400K available for various health care workers in NJ this week.


bub said:

The sign up web sites could be more informative.  I told my wife to sign up with Essex even though she's not in any special group, thinking it might be first come first serve once they start giving appointments. Only after she filled out the whole thing did they reply that the regular folks could not register yet.  The sites should say something right up front, in bold, about who can register and when.

I have such a dim view of the Joe D. Essex County political machine that the fact I was able to push an on-line application through for myself and get a response (albeit not an appointment) impressed m

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

My complaint is that once you register, you receive a text telling to wait for further instructions. 

The further instructions never come


the process this morning took about 30 minutes, including the 15 minute sit down th wait if you get an adverse reaction.

 I just received the same text trying to register as a healthcare provider.


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