NJ Anticipating 'High Demand' For Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey is ramping up capacity as the state awaits federal guidance on the third COVID-19 vaccine dose. This includes the return of New Jersey's COVID-19 vaccination mega-sites, which state officials expect will be ready almost immediately.

“Even without federal guidance, we continue to work across all levels of government and with our health care networks and providers to ensure we are prepared whenever that authorization comes down,” Murphy said during a news conference Monday afternoon. “We are doing this in recognition that the window for boosters could soon be open for all of you who received your second doses as recently as six months ago. We are working hard to meet what we anticipate will be a very high demand.”

“We expect to have at least one mega-site up almost immediately,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. “We expect two other mega-sites up within the state to cover the regions, North, Central and South, and we would like all 21 counties to have a vaccination site that people can be directed to, in addition to all of the existing outlets that we currently have.”

Officials don't know where those mega-sites might go, and the number that open depends on requirements from the federal government. It is still unknown if third-doses will be available for those who got the second dose of their respective vaccine six months ago or eight months ago.

If it's the former, Murphy said he expects 2.4 million people might be eligible for a third dose immediately, which would increase the need right off the bat, which would be Sept. 20. Read more here: COVID-19 Booster Shot Or Third Dose? Here's The Difference

“Do you need as many mega-sites if the list of eligible folks at first is not as big? That’s something that all of us are war-gaming as we speak,” Murphy said. “I promise you this: We will be ready.”

There is uncertainty as to who will need to get a booster, and when, Murphy said. As soon as the state gets that information, they will let everyone know, Murphy said.

Mega-sites were previously open from about February through the middle of the summer. Those sites serviced people from all over the state, and were open due to the high demand for a vaccine that wasn't readily available. Those sites were in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Middlesex and Mercer counties. Read more here: NJ COVID Vaccine Mega-Sites Will End

“We will overbuild as opposed to underbuild, but even when we do that, my guess is there will initially be a supply-demand imbalance,” Murphy said.

The discussion of booster shots has been ongoing nationally since late in the summer. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee will review expert scientists' recommendation that booster shots aren't needed at this time on Friday, according to CNBC.

The United Kingdom and Europe are also considering booster shots, and Israel is considering a fourth shot, according to Bloomberg News.