Morris Twp. Firefighter Introduces Phil Murphy At Vaccine Site

ROCKAWAY, NJ — It's a new day for firefighters like Jay Alderton. The Morris Township career firefighter and EMT introduced Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday at New Jersey's COVID-19 vaccine mega site in Rockaway.

"We’re all used to charging head-on into potentially dangerous situations, but COVID-19 has added a new layer of uncertainty and change for us all," Alderton said. "Even with all the precautions we are taking during our daily exposures — wearing our masks, constantly sanitizing our apparatus and our stations, the extra time lost getting to patients while we don our PPE — there is still no guarantee that not only could we contract the virus, but the scarier reality is that we can possibly bring it home to our loved ones."

New Jersey made police and fire professionals eligible Thursday for coronavirus vaccinations. They're among the limited groups eligible for the vaccines in New Jersey and at the state's mega site at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.

Read more: NJ's COVID-19 Vaccine Mega Site In Morris County Opens

Alderton's wife, Melissa, also serves as a career firefighter. They both wanted to get vaccinated when the option became available to protect themselves and each other. Alderton got vaccinated Friday, and Melissa has been vaccinated too.

"We look forward to the days ahead that will bring some normalcy," Alderton said, "being able to travel again, go to a football game, visit our family and see all of our friends. This vaccine is the first step in us moving to the right direction."

Watch Alderton speak below:

Thanks for reading. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to josh.bakan@patch.com.

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store. You can also follow the Morris Township-Morris Plains Patch Facebook page.