Improvements implemented at the Meadowlands COVID-19 vaccination site to cut down waiting times

Hackensack Meridian Health began improvements at the Meadowlands COVID-19 vaccination site after people lined up outside of the building waiting for up to four hours.

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2021, 5:54 PM

Updated 1,151 days ago

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Hackensack Meridian Health began improvements at the Meadowlands COVID-19 vaccination site after people lined up outside of the building waiting for up to four hours.
Apparently, people with appointments coming too early was the issue. Rumors of computer glitches or overbooking were unfounded.
On Thursday, News 12 New Jersey found two men who thought their appointment meant they could come anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., but the appointments were for specific times only.
The line on Thursday extended around the side of the building and into the parking lot. Some were confused as to why they were waiting so long when they had an appointment.
In response, organizers said in some cases people without appointments were getting in line very early out of fear the site might run out of doses.
"There are people who are arriving for their appointments upwards of four hours early, which is causing the line. The issue is that we have capacity constraints inside the facility and need to maintain social distancing guidelines," said Benjamin Goldstein of Hackensack Meridian Health.
Digital signs now suggest people wait in their car until 15-minutes before their appointment.
The site is also vaccinating a large number of people each day. Between Wednesday and Thursday, the Meadowlands site vaccinated over 6,000 New Jersey residents.
On Friday, there was a consistent movement of people waiting on line to get their vaccines. However, residents with appointments were apparently still coming too early. Those with appointments scheduled for 8 a.m. arrived as early as 6 a.m., with a line beginning outside the facility at 7 a.m.
Residents whom News 12 spoke with said they were pleased to get their vaccinations.
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