An Inside Look at a Vaccine Provider

By BRIAN SCHMID

There is a new hot commodity around New Jersey: the COVID-19 vaccine. Around New Jersey there are many different sites where one may be able to obtain these vaccines – hospitals, arenas, pharmacies, and food stores. One of these places is the ShopRite in Little Falls.

Vaccine distribution sites, though sparse, are administering vaccines at a fairly quick rate throughout the entire state of New Jersey. In addition to this, the state is making sure to keep all information strictly confidential. According to covid19.nj.gov, the state will securely store all vaccine recipient’s information, such as names, addresses, and ethnicity.

“They gave us initial doses to start and guaranteed us enough to cover the second dose for those who received the first one,” said ShopRite store manager Rich Greco. Greco was told by the pharmaceutical department of Wakefern, the ownership group of this specific store, that his store would be able to distribute vaccines. 

“We use Moderna two-dose vaccines,” Greco added. “The feedback that I have gotten back from some customers is that ‘My arm hurts’,” he said while laughing through his blue cloth mask. Other effects after the shot include the hurting of the arm, mild headaches and fatigue, as well as day-long fevers.

The ShopRite of Little Falls has been administering these vaccines for over a month. Heather Shasa is the lead dietician at ShopRite, and she is involved in getting people appointments to receive the vaccine. According to Shasa, “The individuals who are eligible are healthcare providers, law enforcement, people 65 and older, and people ages 18-64 with underlying medical conditions.”

 New Jersey is currently in Phase 1B of vaccine distribution, including first responders such as police officers and firemen. After a significant portion of these citizens are vaccinated, then the vaccines will be open to all. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, vaccines could be widely available in the United States as soon as April.

Another reason why there is such a small portion of the population eligible for the vaccination is due to the fact that vaccines are in very high demand, and at the moment the supply cannot match the demand, officials say. 

“It was a total overload and it was in the matter of a day,” Greco said, explaining how quickly appointments booked up. ShopRite released online vaccination forms that eligible citizens could fill out, and they filled up in a matter of minutes.

“As soon as we opened appointments they were booked,” Shasa added.

Due to the location of this specific ShopRite, being in the middle of the three cities of Little Falls, Paterson, and Totowa, there are many residents looking for appointments, but there are not enough vaccines. So, appointments are booked on a first come first serve basis.

Although the store got two shipments of about a thousand vaccines, most of the current supply is already booked. “Right now we’re pretty much administering only second doses,” Shasa added. 

Vaccines are administered right next to the dieticians office inside the store by doctors who were called in to give the shots. Appointments, however, are booked via the online registration that is run by the store dieticians. There is a designated waiting area that is outlined by a bright yellow chain with folding chairs inside for customers to sit on while they wait for their vaccines. The process, though new, has been going smoothly.