For
Immediate Release:
January 22, 2021
Monmouth County partners
with Monmouth Medical Center and Brookdale Community College to provide
vaccination site
LINCROFT, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of County
Commissioners held a joint press conference with Monmouth Medical Center, an
RWJBarnabas Health facility, and Brookdale Community College today to announce
their partnership to provide a vaccination site at Brookdale Community
College’s Robert J. Collins Arena.
“I am very excited to announce the
County’s partnership with Brookdale and Monmouth Medical Center to provide this
vaccination site for our residents,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A.
Arnone. “We know that the rollout of the vaccine has been a frustrating process
for everyone, but especially for our vulnerable residents who are seeking the
vaccine. Unfortunately, we had been receiving an extremely limited amount of
vaccinations and have not been able to meet the demand due to the insufficient
supply received from the State. We have been advocating tirelessly for more
vaccines for Monmouth County since the beginning and we will continue to seek
more vaccines.”
Monmouth County was receiving only
500 vaccines per week, but the County was informed that, beginning next week,
the County will receive 2,500 vaccines per week.
Of the 2,500, 2,000 vaccines will
be administered at the Brookdale site over five days per week. The other 500
will be administered at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building in Freehold.
All vaccines will be administered by appointment only. No walk-ins will be
accepted.
“Our investment in this vaccination site is core to the
Monmouth Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health mission to improve the health
and wellness of our community. We are thankful for the opportunity to work
alongside Monmouth County and Brookdale Community College to help ensure that
the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available,” said Eric Carney,
President and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center
Southern Campus.
“Brookdale Community College is honored to partner with
Monmouth County and RWJ Barnabas Health to ensure that the largest number of
members of our community have access to the COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as
possible,” said Dr. David Stout, President of Brookdale Community College.
“Thanks to Commissioner Director Tom Arnone, Monmouth Medical Center CEO Eric
Carney and our respective teams, the vaccination site on Brookdale’s main
campus in Lincroft will significantly increase the County’s capacity to deliver
vaccines to the public. We’re proud to provide this critical service to our
community.”
“Currently, in New Jersey, vaccines are available to
healthcare personnel, long-term care residents and staff, first responders,
individuals ages 65 and older as well as individuals ages 16-64 with medical
conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which
increase the risk of severe illness from the virus,” said Commissioner Deputy
Director Susan M. Kiley.
These conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease)
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as
heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Obesity (body mass index
[BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40
kg/m2)
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Individuals who are pregnant and those in an
immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
are also eligible but should follow CDC guidance and first discuss vaccination
with their medical provider before receiving the vaccine.
The Brookdale site will be open
five days per week, including Saturday, and offer later hours on Mondays. The
hours, which are subject to change, will be as follows: Monday from 1-6 p.m.;
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.
to noon.
The Freehold site will continue to
operate five days per week, Monday through Friday, and the times will vary based
on vaccine availability.
“These hours are subject to
change and likely will as the number of vaccines we receive and guidelines
continue to change,” said Commissioner Director Arnone. “Initially, we will be
scheduling individuals from the County’s waiting list, which currently has more
than 11,000 names on it, until our new registration system is ready to go live.”
Residents who are eligible to receive the COVID-19
vaccine can go to the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com
and use the Monmouth County
COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist to be placed on the waitlist for an appointment
for a vaccine.
“While we do not have control over how many vaccines
we receive or when we receive them, we will work tirelessly to distribute all
vaccines as soon as they are received by the State and continue to advocate for
more vaccines to be given to Monmouth County residents,” said Commissioner
Director Arnone. “I would also like to take
this opportunity to ask for volunteers. We are looking for volunteers to give
vaccinations and to work registration.
Those interested in volunteering
can call the Monmouth County Health Department Phone Bank at 732-845-2070 or
email MonmouthCOVID19@visitmonmouth.com.
The next Phase to be vaccinated will be the
remainder of the essential workers and the general population.
Monmouth County does not know when New Jersey
Department of Health will allow for the next Phase to begin receiving vaccines.
For more information regarding the State’s phased
approach, go to covid19.nj.gov.
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