Hundreds wait in line for hours outside Meadowlands mega COVID-19 vaccination site

News 12 New Jersey has been hearing about people who have waited for hours on a line at the Meadowlands COVID-19 mega-site, even though vaccines are given out by appointment only.

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2021, 11:21 AM

Updated 1,164 days ago

Share:

News 12 New Jersey has been hearing about people who have waited for hours on a line at the Meadowlands COVID-19 mega-site, even though vaccines are given out by appointment only.
The line of people waiting on the vaccine wrapped around the side of the building and extended into the parking lot. It is something not seen at other vaccine mega-sites in New Jersey.
“This is just unreal. It’s not right,” said John Mason.
The East Windsor resident says that he spent two hours with his wife while she waited to get her vaccine. He got his Thursday morning at a site closer to home.
“I went this morning to Cure Arena in Trenton. In less than 30 minutes we were done,” he said.
Mason’s wife uses a wheelchair, so waiting for two hours was even more of an inconvenience. Mason’s daughter says that she felt that people with handicaps were being isolated.
“The people in the wheelchairs were there. And then you had to have whoever came with the person in the wheelchair stand in line the whole time,” she said.
Frank DeSevo of Lincroft had a 3:50 p.m. appointment. He said that he had been waiting 30 minutes.
“There’s something wrong here, either with the product or the people – not enough,” he said.
Hackensack Meridian Health spokesman Benjamin Goldstein said in a statement, "People are showing up in some cases four hours early for their appointment. Due to capacity constraints and social distancing guidelines inside the facility, there is no place where the early arrivers can wait."
Goldstein said that they are asking people to stay in their cars until 15 minutes before their appointment. He says that some people think that the vaccine supply will run out if they don’t come early, but if a person has an appointment, there will be a dose waiting for them.


More from News 12
0:34
Iconic Paterson hot dog stand Libby's Lunch sold at auction

Iconic Paterson hot dog stand Libby's Lunch sold at auction

1:21
Steady rain, cooler feel Sunday in New Jersey; warmer start to workweek

Steady rain, cooler feel Sunday in New Jersey; warmer start to workweek

1:11
Injury at Morristown NJ Transit station leads to train service delays

Injury at Morristown NJ Transit station leads to train service delays

1:50
Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

1:06
Overnight fire destroys home in Lakewood

Overnight fire destroys home in Lakewood

2:06
New guidance says women need to be screened for breast cancer at 40 or younger

New guidance says women need to be screened for breast cancer at 40 or younger

5:11
 All I-95 lanes in Norwalk reopen one day after overpass demolition

All I-95 lanes in Norwalk reopen one day after overpass demolition

1:46
Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

0:42
NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

0:28
Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

0:42
Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

1:32
Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

0:27
Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

0:30
Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

0:27
Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

2:02
Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

1:04
Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

0:49
Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

0:39
Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

0:28
GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona