Uber, Local Officials To Provide 5K Rides To COVID Vaccine Sites

MONMOUTH COUNTY - Rideshare service Uber will be providing 5,000 rides to vaccination sites for Monmouth County residents free-of-charge thanks to a new partnership with local officials.

In an effort to help constituents without access to transportation get vaccinated, Sen. Vin Gopal and Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey (D-Monmouth) recently arranged an agreement with Uber. The rideshare company has since teamed up with Affordable Housing Alliance to administer the rides.

“This partnership shows the power of elected officials, the private sector and non-profits coming together to act in the public good, and I thank both Affordable Housing Alliance and Uber for their willingness to collaborate on this vital issue,” said Sen. Gopal in a statement. “With the state shifting into a new phase of the vaccination push, reaching underserved communities is essential, and this arrangement will help accomplish that.”

Participating locals will be given a promotional code allowing them free transit to and from vaccine sites for both required doses.

“Guaranteeing that everyone has access to vaccinations is an important step toward reaching herd immunity and this program will go a long way towards making that a reality in Monmouth County,” said Assemblyman Houghtaling. “This partnership takes the complication of no available transportation out of the equation, and in turn will significantly help people receive the vaccine.”

New Jersey recently hit its 50 percent mark in adult vaccinations, with 3,598,660 million adults vaccinated in the state as of Sunday. State officials still aim to have 70 percent of New Jerseyans vaccinated by the end of June, or about 4.7 million people.

The Affordable Housing Alliance will be coordinating with local governments and other organizations to book vaccine appointments and rides. The partnership will build on similar initiatives Uber has started, including a highly successful program in Jersey City and an effort in Camden.

“This initiative will help Monmouth County residents without access to transportation get the vaccines they need,” said Uber spokesperson Alix Anfang. “We are proud to be working with Senator Gopal, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Downey and an excellent organization like Affordable Housing Alliance with a track record of helping people in need and we look forward to helping these residents get the protection they deserve.”