Wayne COVID Vaccine Clinic Running Smoothly, But Doses Limited

WAYNE, NJ — For anyone who can remember a past life which included a rush to buy concert tickets before they sold out, Wayne Mayor Christopher Vergano said register for a COVID-19 vaccination should feel familiar.

Vergano has provided an update to township residents regarding Wayne's vaccine clinic, and explained in detail on how residents can register to get theirs, even though doses remain limited.

Registration for vaccines in Wayne typically goes live on the township website Friday afternoons, Vergano said.

"We wait until Friday afternoon because we need to get confirmation from the state Department of Health on how many doses we're receiving," Vergano said.

According to the website, the number of available appointments for a given week is based on the number of doses available to the township. For instance, during the first week of vaccinations, the township had approximately 300 doses available, meaning approximately 300 appointments could be scheduled.

Vergano said the township has used all of their available doses to date, but have requested far more — 2,500 doses — than they've received.

However, if more doses are received from the state, Vergano said the Health Department will be able to operate multiple days a week.

For now, however, the vaccine clinic is available one day a week, on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The clinic is located at the former Macy's building in the Preakness Shopping Center on Hamburg Turnpike.

An appointment must be made ahead of time, and those trying to register most also meet the state criteria.

"If you show up and do not meet the criteria, you will not be given a vaccine," said Vergano.

Currently, Category 1A patients are eligible to receive vaccines, as are first responders in Category 1B.

Seniors over the age of 65 and others with medical conditions and those between the ages of 16 and 64 with medical conditions as defined by the CDC were recently added to the list of eligible patients as well.

READ MORE: NJ Issues New COVID Vaccine Priority List; Teachers 'On Deck'

If you are able to receive the vaccine in Wayne, you'll also receive a follow-up email for obtaining a second dose. According to township officials, the Health Department is planning separate second dose clinics for those appointments, which should be given out as close to 1 month from the first vaccine as possible.

See Vergano's full remarks here:

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