Burlington County Resumes Vaccinations For Homebound Residents

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County is once again vaccinating homebound residents against the coronavirus, officials announced this week.

“We’ve made tremendous strides at our Burlington County Vaccine Mega-Site, where thousands are now getting vaccinated daily, but we know the job isn’t finished until everyone who wants a vaccine receives one,” Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson said. “That means bringing vaccine to people, particularly those who are homebound and unable to travel to the Mega-Site or the other area vaccine sites. We’ve taken steps to ensure this population has access to the vaccine’s long-awaited protection, and we’re pleased to see our mobile program safely resume.”

The health department had paused the use of the program, which uses the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a pause in the use of the vaccine due to blood clot concerns. Read more here: Burlington County To Contact Those Who Got J&J Vaccine Amid Pause

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

That pause ended after the FDA and the CDC announced that they had satisfactorily studied and approved the use of the vaccine for those 18 years and older.

About 1,000 Burlington County residents have already been vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before the pause, according to health officials. Most of those residents were homebound residents registered with the Meals on Wheels program, as well as homeless, families in domestic violence shelters and elderly residents in underserved communities, according to officials.

The county is not aware of any serious adverse reactions or complications among those who received it.

“This pause and restart of vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine demonstrates that our nation’s rigorous system of ensuring vaccine safety works and is completely transparent,” Burlington County Health Director Dr. Herb Conaway said. “Cases of complications following Johnson & Johnson vaccine are extremely rare and overwhelming evidence supports the fact that all approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in providing protection against the virus. I strongly encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated to make an appointment to receive the first available vaccine. Get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family and friends and the broader community.”

In addition to operating the mobile vaccination program, the Burlington County Health Department assists Virtua Health and the State of New Jersey and New Jersey National Guard with the operation of the Burlington County Vaccine Mega-Site, where more than 300,000 people have now been vaccinated.

Appointments are available at the Mega-Site and can be made online at virtua.org/vaccine or by calling 856-325-422.

“We know how challenging the last year has been for our residents and our businesses, but we remain hopeful that the vaccines and the protection they provide will help us turn the corner and stamp out this virus,” Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell. “We’re not there yet, but we’re getting closer and our Health Department and Mega-Site is leading the way.”

To keep up with the latest vaccination news, visit Patch's New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccination Information Hub.

Keep up to date with what's happening in your community by subscribing to your local Patch newsletter here.