All six of New Jersey's COVID-19 vaccine megasites are now
offering walk-in appointments.
Vaccination appointments
have dropped off in recent days. The Edison site used to be packed with people,
and now the parking lot is mostly empty.
While 2.9 million people in
New Jersey have been fully vaccinated, this change is taking place because not
as many people are getting the shot.
"The process for me personally was extremely smooth,” says Jake Keszthelyi, of Rockaway. “They very quickly
accommodated me. It was really, really nice. I would have to say that for
anybody that doesn't have appointment, the walk-in is a fine awesome option, and
I think it's also very important and good to integrate as an option because we
really do want to cover the gap of people that haven't been given the vaccine
yet."
It is believed that the
Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause brought on some vaccine hesitancy among
some people.
Gov. Phil Murphy says that
he still expects New Jersey to reach herd immunity statewide as planned.
"It is our expectation
that we will get to that 70% initial phase – adults getting vaccinated – by the
end of June," he said.
The hope is that the
walk-in system will make it easier for people who are reluctant to get the
vaccine or those who had trouble finding appointments.
Every site’s walk-in hours are slightly different. Atlantic City is
taking walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bergen County from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Burlington County from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gloucester County from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Middlesex County
from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Morris County from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The sites are also taking
traditional appointments as well.