​Berkeley Pushes For Vaccine Clinics In Senior Communities

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley Township officials urged the state to organize COVID-19 vaccination clinics in senior communities during a council meeting Tuesday.

Township officials said senior clubhouses would serve as accessible vaccination sites, as they have served as flu vaccination sites in the past.

In a county survey, several senior communities expressed interest in hosting clinics, Mayor Carmen Amato said.

“The purpose of this resolution is to encourage that they do utilize our clubhouses to have either drive-thru vaccinations or vaccinations at the clubhouses for senior citizens," Amato said.

Amato also offered the recreation center on Route 9 as a possible vaccination site.

There are about 43,000 residents in Berkeley, with 18,000 of those being senior citizens, according to Amato.

Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich also announced that the Ocean County Health Department is assembling two mobile units for vaccinations, though a schedule has not been announced for them yet.

Gingrich said township officials will notify the senior community when those units have been established.

Amato added that his office has been inundated with phone calls from senior citizens asking how they can register for the vaccine without access to a computer. Amato said anyone in that situation should call the state's COVID-19 vaccine call center at 855-568-0545 to sign up.

Since the center is receiving high call volumes, he encouraged people to call during off-hours, such as early in the morning or late in the day. The call center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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