Valley Health Will Vaccinate 5,000 Bergen Educators This Week

PARAMUS, NJ — Thousands of educators are scheduled for COVID-19 vaccinations at Valley Hospital's Paramus location. Bergen County officials say it's an important step toward normalcy in area schools.

A bulk of those inoculations came on Saturday when 600 educators received vaccinations through Valley's Supporting Our Schools vaccination program. Read more: Valley Health Designates COVID Vaccines For Bergen Educators

Fifth District Congressman Josh Gottheimer was on hand to deliver coffee to Valley staff, and called the initiative "incredible."

"Valley Health System is proud to be supporting our local area schools and childcare facilities! This week, dependent on our limited supply, our Vaccination Center, is dedicating vaccines to all personnel who are employed by area schools, as well as licensed childcare providers. Valley salutes all of our area teachers, school staff, and childcare providers who have guided North Jersey’s students through the past year," Valley officials wrote on social media.

Bergen County Education Association President Sue McBride also responded to Valley's initiative.

"BCEA is thrilled that Valley has instituted the Supporting Our Schools vaccination program. Getting our school employees vaccinated is essential to getting our schools and our communities closer to a place of normalcy and maintaining safe working environments. We greatly appreciate Valley's recognition of how tirelessly our educators have worked throughout this health crisis," said McBride.

The program comes as others organize similar initiatives to get teachers vaccinated amid calls from parents and officials to get kids back in school buildings.

Bergen County and Bergen New Bridge vaccinated 700 school employees at a one-day clinic March 13, with another clinic scheduled for this past Saturday. Read more: 700 Bergen County Teachers, Faculty Vaccinated In Paramus

These initiatives are crucial to making progress toward a full return to in-person learning, Gottheimer said.

"It’s vital that we reopen North Jersey’s schools safely, which means we need to ensure our educators and school staff have access to the vaccine. That’s why it’s incredible to see Valley’s initiative to vaccinate 5,000 teachers here this week, and it’s why I’m working to expand this effort to all hospitals in the Fifth District," he said.

"I hope more hospitals and localities set aside a portion of our vaccines for educators, with specific hours for teachers to come get their shot."

Valley's educator vaccination efforts also aided them in reaching a milestone at the hospital: 50,000 doses administered.

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