New Bridge, Bergen County Partner With NAACP For Vaccinations

PARAMUS, NJ — The Bergen County COVID-19 Vaccine Equity team recently partnered with the Bergen County NAACP for a mobile vaccination clinic at Englewood's Community Baptist Church.

Another clinic is scheduled for June 5 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Hackensack.

The Bergen County COVID-19 Vaccination Equity Team is a collection of four organizations looking to address the racial disparities of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Together, the group has hosted clinics for the Ramapough Lenape Nation in Mahwah, and reserved weekly vaccination appointments at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center's Alternate Care Annex site for "Black and Brown Bergen County residents."

The May 22 vaccination clinic in Englewood is the latest of their efforts.

"Earlier this year, we formed the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Team with the County of Bergen, Greater Bergen Alliance and the Bergen Coalition of Black Clergy to help address access and vaccine hesitancy in communities of color," said Bergen New Bridge President and CEO, Deborah Visconi.

"We are honored to continue this commitment by working with the Bergen County NAACP to sponsor multiple mobile vaccination clinics that are bringing COVID-19 vaccinations directly into underserved communities."

Gov. Phil Murphy said an equitable vaccine rollout was critical to ensuring that the state hits its 70 percent goal by the end of June. Efforts like these can be part of the solution.

"We are thankful to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and the COVID-19 Vaccination partners for their dedication to our communities," said Jeff Carter, president of the Bergen County NAACP.

"They are leading the way out of this pandemic."

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