The first COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Mercer County was held on Monday in collaboration with Hamilton Township and Mercer County Health Office Association.
This was the first in a series of planned clinics to vaccinate health workers across the county. There will be two clinics per week on a rotating basis, with the capacity to handle 500 Modern vaccines per week.
According to a press release, vaccine clinics will only be by appointment and subject to the availability of the vaccine dose.
“Vaccination is a critical component in protecting our residents,” said Christopher Hellwig, Hamilton County health officer in the press release. “Working together to protect the citizens of Mercer County is exactly what the founding members of MCHOA had in mind when they graduated in 1972. Our vaccination clinics will continue with that ideal and will work to protect public health, especially those that have been most affected by COVID-19, while giving us a clear end to this pandemic. “
In conjunction with the state health guidelines and the CDC, the first group to qualify for vaccine doses in Phase 1A will be health professionals. This group is composed of emergency medical personnel, nurses, dentists and doctors, as well as technicians, therapists, interns, administrative staff and others.
Health care workers who cannot qualify for the vaccine include those who have already been vaccinated through their employer or the Federal Long Term Care Partnership Program.
It will be up to the state to decide when to move from Phase 1A and proceed to Phase 1B, 1C, 2 and so on. It is the state’s goal to vaccinate up to 70% of the adult population in six months, according to the note.
Vaccines will be administered at the distribution points of each municipality. The Mercer County Health Officers Association will serve all counties in the county during each phase of vaccine distribution.
“Hamilton Township is proud to partner with the Mercer County Health Officer Association to ensure that those on the front lines in our fight against this virus receive the vaccine as soon as possible,” said Mayor Jeff Martin in the statement. “The arrival of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a continuous step forward to provide protection to more of the critical health workforce in our community and eventually to the adult population in general.
Our journalism needs your support. Please sign up for NJ.com today.
Brian Bobal can be reached at [email protected].