The Quest To COVID Vaccinate My Baby Boomer Parents In New Jersey

After a lot of texted links, false starts and an uncertain second vaccination appointment, my parents are finally inoculated from COVID-19. But that doesn't mean the Garden State made it easy for them.

As a journalist covering the pandemic, I knew it wasn't going to be a picnic. I knew there was a lack of supply to meet the demand. I covered the news conferences touting New Jersey's rollout but saw the plan glossed over those who were not computer capable or savvy.

I told the stories of people struggling to get their parents a vaccine appointment while at the same time struggling to get my own. Now, nearly two weeks from my second dose and fully inoculated, I was able to take my parents — finally, blessedly — to complete their vaccine protocol.

My parents, Geri and Russ Sr., are 70 and 69, respectively. Geri is a retired intensive care unit nurse who is a primary caregiver to my 9-year-old niece. In her retirement, she has taken to breakfasts before the bus, after-school lunch snacks and homework routines and recently navigated virtual learning with aplomb. All of this life experience proved to be invaluable in getting them their appointments.

Russ Sr. was a retired service manager who went back to work full time during the pandemic in order to help deal with recent financial reversals. My mother is in good health and is conscientious in keeping it that way.

My father is in good health but is not.

He's had a quadruple bypass, was put in a coma after contracting Lyme disease and has had type 2 diabetes for decades. In other words, he was a walking pile of comorbidities.

In both cases, they presented risk factors that made them elligible for a 1b vaccination.

That is where the clarity in the process vanished. Where they live in Hunterdon County there was no megasite nearby. And when the vaccinations first began, the rules kept changing so quickly there was no way to keep up. Sussex County was taking people who lived out of the area, until they weren't. Summit Medical Group was vaccinating all patients until they weren't. You could register with Atlantic Health until you couldn't.

And let's not bother mentioning CVS and Rite Aid and how they handled their rollout.

All the while, people were getting more and more anxious about using a computer, which was not their medium of choice.

Fortunately, the state opened a hotline to help people schedule vaccines. Until it stopped.

I was sending links to my mother as fast as I could find them. I kept telling her to refresh the pages, to keep at it, and she would sigh, exhausted, trying to find time to do this while raising my niece, taking care of the animals on their farm and trying to keep my father from dropping dead.

She is extremely good at that. He would have been dead at least five times I can think of if it wasn't for her.

Her perseverance, more than my assistance, is what paid off in the end. But it was also luck. During this same period, I heard from many readers who were not so lucky.

"The only appointments we have been offered are in Gloucester County (we live in Sussex) and he can’t travel that far without bathroom issues, nor could I be assured of getting him safely to either a first or second appointment with the weather we’ve been experiencing. I hope Governor Murphy and The Woman Who Needs No Introduction see your article and make some desperately needed changes. My husband shouldn’t have to compete with a 20-year old tech savvy smoker for a Covid vaccine."

"Hi Russ
Love your topics.
I am a grandmother and 76 years old.
I consider myself pretty darned computer literate
but I had one helluva time trying to get an
appointment for the vaccine.
Ever since we could register at the state site I was
hoping every day they would send me when/where
I could be vaccinated."

"I just read your article in the patch! It hit a cord with me. I spent so many hours trying to get my widowed mother, grandmother of 8, a covid vaccine! The process was painful & confusing for a reasonably computer savy person, who is part of the online shopping generation & can’t live without their smartphone! I refreshed screens hundreds of times, filled out appointment slots dozens of times, only to be told the appointment was no longer available, and watched vaccination sites change their rules slowly by restricting vaccines to only their county’s residents. I also refreshed shoprite’s vaccine website innumerable timed to later learn people were calling a specific shoprites’ store covid line directly to listen to a recorded message saying wether you could drive to the store & wait in line to sign up for an appointment in person (really, how is that acceptable to have a store specific appointment process!)."

"Hi Russ, You hit nail on the head once again. I am 85 and my husband 87 - I have tried and tried to get an appointment. Once I even got to reserve and day and time, but by the time I got all the information entered into my computer, my place was taken by someone more computer savvy. It is frustrating. However, then I think perhaps that person has a longer timeline than I have. How much longer could I live, should I live? Friends of mine (not all) think the same way.

I go to the drug stone, to the supermarket, double-masked (as my nurse daughter requires) and then I forget to disinfect my hands. Friends stop in and we decide to have a cup of tea - there go the masks. My husband, who doesn’t quite get it, wants to hug friends and family.

So, I live with my fingers crossed and pray for herd immunity - soon!"

Dose Uno

In our case, my mother was was able to get both her and my father an appointment at the Rowan College site in south Jersey.

So they took a road trip down in order to get their first taste of immunity. It was not an easy experience to navigate. Their first trip to the Gloucester Megasite was crowded, harried, although my mother was quick to note they boasted excellent signage. But signage or not, there was confusion when they left the facility with sore arms and a vaccine card.

They were not given a second appointment.

As someone who was covering the news conferences and the news of this surrounding this, I knew this was not the way it was supposed to be. I contacted my mother, who said there was signage up that said we needed to wait for an email to see when their next appointment would be.

In the interim we looked for news, made phone calls, but after a few anxious days received word that they both would be receiving their shots at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. In the weeks leading up to their second appointment, supply chain issues plagued the megasites, and many appointments were canceled or postponed as doses dried up.

Dose Dos

The night before I was drive them to their second dose, I checked in with my mother, who told me there was no change, their appointments were still on. I also checked with my father, who did not remember we were going for the second shot the next day.

The ride down was simple, mostly highways and well marked. I left my house a little before 7 a.m., picked them up a little after 8 a.m. and had them there by 9:15 a.m. True to the description, the signage was excellent and, with so few doses to administer, the parking lots was "half what it was the last time," my mother said.

Like a nervous parent of a first time kindergartner, I walked my parents up the long walkway to the entrance, where an officer was barking out orders.

"LICENSE! VACCINATION CARD! HAVE'EM OUT AND HAVE 'EM READY!"

This is where we parted ways, and I went back to my car, passing a series of golf carts being used to shuttle those who needed it to the doorway.

From inside the facility, my mother played Lois Lane, sending out where they were and what they were doing via text message.

"It is very efficient in here," she sent. "Make sure you write that everyone was very nice and they are doing an excellent job."

After their injections, they were observed by an EMT for 30 minutes before being released and I could drive them home.

My father insisted he felt fine, while my mother said her arm had started feeling sore. By the time we arrived at their home, my mother was feeling fatigued and wanted to lie down. It seemed as if her symptoms were going to mimic the ones I experienced with my second dose a couple weeks earlier.

My father was hungry.

Since my sister and niece live with them and were home if my mother needed anything, my father and I had lunch and by the time we returned my mother had developed more symptoms. Her temperature regulation was off, as she kept feeling hot and cold, the body aches had escalated, and she had developed a post nasal drip and congestion.

My sister and niece left, my father went upstairs for a nap and I sat with my mother, trying to get her to eat and drink. She had no appetite but for a small bag of potato chips and drank some iced tea and hot chocolate (depending on her temperature at the moment) and tried to stave off taking any pain reliever for as long as possible.

Her energy level waxed and waned throughout the day. When I would check on my father, he would insist he was fine, coming down to cook himself dinner or grab a snack here and there.

I stayed there until my sister came home for the night, around 10 p.m. After I left, unable to take the aches and pains in her arms, my mother took a Tylenol and went to bed.

The next morning, I called her and she told me she slept through the night but my father got up at 3 a.m. and made himself a cup of coffee for no reason. He also told her he would not be sharing any symptoms he might be having with me because then I would write about them. I believe this to be the "brain fog" some people experience after the second shot.

So your loved ones might not be forthcoming in their responses, and possibly not even on purpose. While my mother was still feeling lethargy and nausea on Day Two, my father was well enough to run errands. By Sunday night, my mother had a resurgence of her fever, nausea and a crushing headache that came with dizziness.

As of Monday morning, 36 hours later, only mild dizziness and headache remained, position dependent.

Post Mortem

The flaws in the vaccination system appear to go beyond the lack of supply and the delays in the deliveries due to the weather. The rules on where someone can get vaccinated change swiftly, and the window to take advantage of the appointments closes quickly as well.

Those who are able to get an appointment are often diverted to a place that is nowhere near their home, which is a concern for those who cannot drive a great distance or stand the drive for a great distance. It also does not take into account those who may become symptomatic while on their way home from an inoculation.

As my mother said repeatedly, her generation is one that is used to picking up the phone and talking to someone to get answers, guidance and support. The lack of a consistent, generation-appropriate way to communicate to the most vulnerable has not only hampered the vaccine rollout, but it has hampered the public confidence in the process.

There is much to celebrate in terms of where the Garden State is in its inoculation plan. But there are still improvements and efficiencies that can be made and that don't need an influx of vaccine doses to accomplish.

Some Regional Vaccination Information

There is no requirement to register with the Garden State in order to get a vaccine, it does open up more options to chase down the small supply available. Registering with the state site can be done through their website.

Those registered will receive an email from the state identifying what category they fall in. Currently, the New Jersey is vaccinating 1a and some 1b. This email alone provides nothing but information.

A second email from the state will give you a link to their scheduling system. But this is only for some state-run sites. Those who choose can sign up with outside agencies for a vaccine such as ShopRite, Atlantic Health, CVS, depending on where they live.

In all cases once the link is received it is a matter of constantly checking throughout the day. New Jersey also has a phone line to help with vaccine scheduling questions. The number is 855-568-0545.

Specific Locations

Acme Pharmacy

Acme is not doing COVID-19 vaccines yet, but you can now sign up at their website to be alerted when the vaccine becomes available in your area.

ShopRite

The site is well-traveled and there is a wait to even access the site. Users are limited to searching by ZIP code which then defaults to a 10-mile radius search. So it is good to have some alternate ZIP codes available.

You can access their website for more information or call 856-627-8137 for more information.

Atlantic Health

It is asking for people to sign up for appointment alerts on their website, and then it will reach out to eligible folks in the order of their sign-up, when they have vaccine, so they can book an appointment. This solution is much more able to handle the incredible volume of folks actively looking for an appointment than the mychart option, which is used systemwide for the scheduling of appointments of many types across the system, officials said.

Hackensack Meridian Health

While the website says you must be a patient, there are reports of several people who have gone to their various sites in northern New Jersey. You can try your luck through their registration process

RWJ/Barnabas

Prospective patients must register first to be on the RWJBarnabas vaccine list. Once you have registered, you will be contacted on how to proceed.

Summit Medical Group

The Summit Medical Group is only vaccinating current patients. Those who qualify will receive, and have received, emails when vaccination appointments are available.

County Clusters

Atlantic County

Sign up to get an appointment at the Atlantic County megacenter through the website.

Bergen County

The Bergen County Megasite at the Meadowlands is administrated by Hackensack Meridian. Registration is done through their website.

Valley Health Systems also has their own registration portal on their website.

Burlington/ Camden County Megasite

The Moorestown site was chosen due to its proximity to Camden County. Anyone in the region can set up an appointment through the website and complete the form.

Camden County

CAMCare Health Org is taking calls at 856-583-2400.

Camden County is administering vaccines through Cooper Health, and scheduling happens on their website.

Riverside Medical Group is asking established patients to register through their website.

Rowan Megasite can be accessed by registering through their website.

Cape May County

Register with the state site.

Cumberland County

To register for a vaccine in Cumberland County visit the website.

Essex County

You must be an Essex County resident or work in Essex County (part-time work is OK) to register for a vaccine in Essex County.

To register for their many locations, visit the website.

Essex County does have a help line to answer general questions about locations and how to sign up: 973-877-8456

Gloucester County

The Gloucester County Mega Vaccination Center is located at the Rowan College of South Jersey, Gloucester Campus at 1400 Tanyard Road in Sewell. To sign up for a vaccine use the state registration site. You will get an email telling you when you can try to set up an appointment.

Hudson County

The Hudson County COVID-19 vaccination site is located at the USS Juneau Center at 110 Hackensack Ave. in Kearny. This is a drive-thru site. You must remain in your vehicle in order to receive the vaccination. Advance registration for an appointment is required through the website.

Hunterdon County

Hunterdon Medical Center has a phone appointment system with priority is given to people who live or work in Hunterdon County. The number is 908-237-4238 select option 3 to schedule. Appointments are contingent on vaccine availability.

The link to the County site for registration can be found on their website.

Mercer County

Mercer County vaccination sites are using the state of New Jersey vaccine registry (NJVSS) system to schedule residents for vaccines.

Middlesex County

Middlesex megasite is in Edison at the NJ Convention and Exhibition Hall at 97 Sunfield Ave. Qualified individuals can complete a vaccine registration form on RWJ BarnabasHealth’s website.

Monmouth County

To get on the Monmouth County waitlist sign up on the website.

CHEMed offers the Moderna vaccine when available at 732-523-7955.

Morris County

The options are to sign up on Atlantic Health's site to get an alert to be invited to try for a vaccine appointment or try going through ShopRite.

Riverside Medical Group at 501 State Route 10, Ledgewood is also giving inoculations.

Ocean County

CHEMed in Lakewood can be reached at 732-523-7955 or on their website.

Long Beach Island Health Department can be contacted on their website.

Passaic County

Those who live or in Passaic County can access the registration portal online.

Salem County

Check the Salem County Dept. of Health website for availability through their website.

Somerset County

If you live or work in Somerset County schedule a vaccine through their website.

Sussex County

To make an appointment for the Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, drive-thru site, visit the website. There does not appear to be a residency requirement.

Union County

To access Union County sign-up, visit the website.

Warren County

You must live, work, or go to school in Warren County to be able to receive a vaccination from a Warren County government vaccination clinic.

These sites are in Warren County but aren't part of the county system-

Hunterdon Family Medicine @Riverfield Washington, NJ 908-237-4238

St. Luke's Hosp. Phillipsburg to access vaccine appointment visit the website.

Make Sure You Qualify

As the search continues for COVID-19 vaccinations as the supply remains woefully short of the demand, some find themselves in the enviable position of having to cancel their appointment because they check off a few unfortunate boxes.

Officials note that Garden State residents will not be able to administer a vaccine if any of these conditions apply on the day of appointment:

• If you have experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 48 hours: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• If, within the past 14 days, you have been in close physical contact (six feet or closer for a cumulative total of 15 minutes) with someone who has laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.
• If you are isolating or quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19.
• If you are currently waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test.

Anyone that falls under these categories are asked to cancel their appointment.

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