Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives In Sussex County

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ - The County of Sussex has received its first shipment of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine of 100 doses from the State of New Jersey.

“The new vaccine is portable and will be targeting Sussex County’s homebound population,” said Administrator Carol Novrit of Sussex County’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Novrit said Sussex County Public Health Nurses will administer these limited doses to seniors served by Meals on Wheels; and homebound seniors who reside in subsidized housing complexes.

“Future planning will focus on vaccinating disabled residents who are homebound throughout the county,” Novrit added.

"The arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is significant for Sussex County, as it will go a long way in ensuring our most vulnerable populations have access to the vaccine even if that means we have to come to their doorstep,” said Deputy Director of the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners Anthony Fasano. “There is a real need for much more of this vaccine to be sent here from the state and we'll continue to push for exactly that because of the seriously positive impact it can have on our vaccination efforts locally."

It is presently unknown, Novrit said, when the county will receive additional doses of the Janssen vaccine.

“This is a good thing,” said Commissioner Herbert Yardley, about the receipt of the first
batch of these doses.

Yardley said he hopes that the county, which has the ability to vaccinate 1,200 individuals weekly at its Sussex County Fairgrounds vaccination site, but only receives 1,000 doses weekly from the state – 500 first and second doses each – will be able to expand in the numbers that it can vaccinate. He also said he hopes that Gov. Phil Murphy will specify his plans to expand vaccination sites, including to doctors’ offices, but has not verbalized that yet.

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