The site at the New Jersey Exposition Center in Edison will start taking walk-in appointments at 8 a.m. on Friday. It will be open until noon. The site is run with the help of Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center.
News 12 New Jersey caught up with some people who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the site on Thursday.
“I think everyone should get vaccinated,” says Jennifer Modhu, of Bayonne. “I think walk-ins are definitely a wonderful idea. It just gives people a chance to come in whenever.”
Modhu is a student at New Jersey City University. She says that she is pleased that she will be protected against the virus when she heads back to school this fall. It was a mentality had by several other students.
“It definitely helps me in school because now I can interact with students at college and more in-person work as well,” says Liliette Quintana, a student at Barnard College.
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.
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.
The Atlantic City site is taking walk-in appointments from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Gloucester County site has two sessions – 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The sites are also taking traditional appointments as well.