VA Center In Lyons Gets Its First Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines

LYONS, NJ — Moderna's coronavirus vaccines have arrived in Somerset County. The Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, Lyons campus will soon begin administering vaccines.

The facility will first offer the COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and Community Living Center residents, according to Public Affairs Officer Christine Betros Farrell.

“Receiving the vaccine is like having hope delivered," Farrell said. "As vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccination to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”

The Food and Drug Administration issued emergency-use authorization Friday for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines — days after approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the virus.

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Moderna's vaccine gets administered in two doses, 28 days apart. It was 94 percent effective in clinical trials in preventing COVID-19 disease. The most commonly reported side effects typically lasted several days. Find out more here.

Thirty-seven VA medical centers began offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and veterans Dec. 14. Fifteen additional facilities will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week.

Related article: Concerned About Coronavirus Vaccines? Tell Basking Ridge Patch

As vaccines become available for more veterans, the VA will reach out to make appointments. There is no need to preregister or go to a facility to sign up.

The VA will first offer vaccines to veterans in their longterm-care facilities and health care personnel. After the first two groups, the VA will begin offering vaccines to more veterans at high risk of severe COVID-19 illness. See the VA's vaccine webpage.

New Jersey set a goal for 70 percent of residents to get vaccinated within six months again the coronavirus.

"At the end of the day, I think and I hope by the third or fourth quarter of 2021 (July through December), we will be enjoying a more normal life," state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli told WCBS880.

Read more: Here's When NJ May Be 'Back To Normal' – And You'll Be COVID-Free

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