Summit Vaccination Site Administers 25,000th COVID Shot

SUMMIT, NJ — As more people get the COVID vaccine and new cases of coronavirus begin to wane, Overlook Medical Center in Summit is seeing positive milestones related to the virus. The hospital recently discharged its 2,000th coronavirus patient, and last month, staff at their separate covid vaccination site at the Summit Community Center administered the site's 25,000th shot.

“Marking 25,000 doses today [at the Community Center site], in just over two months, is a tremendous achievement in our fight against the COVID-19 virus,” said Alan Lieber, president of Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center.

The 25,000th dose at the Summit Community Center was given to Lela Ingram, 65, a resident of Woodbridge and a parishioner of Wallace Chapel in Summit.

Ingram said she had adjusted her life to stay safe from the virus, including attending church virtually and learning to do puzzles as a hobby.

“During that time, I felt like going out was the worst thing you could do, like something was chasing you back home,” Ms. Ingram said.

She said the vaccine offered her hope to resume many of her former normal activities, such as attending church in person and visiting relatives from North Carolina.

Studies have shown that the vaccine is at least 95 percent effective against the virus, and among those who still get it, it will greatly reduce the chance of hospitalization and death.

“There’s still a long way to go in vaccinating people against COVID-19, but we are extremely pleased to take a moment to celebrate the milestone of administering more than 25,000 doses of vaccine so far at the Summit Community Center,” said Summit Mayor Nora Radest. “We are proud of our partnership with Overlook and Atlantic Health and the strides we are making together to bring an end to the pandemic.”

Helping celebrate the 25,000th shot was FLAG of Summit, which provided celebratory lunch and cupcakes from local eateries for the Community Center team.

The Community Center vaccination site is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. when vaccine supplies are available. No walk-ins are accepted. Eligible people can register to receive a vaccination appointment alert at https://www.atlantichealth.org.

Summit senior citizens and other residents without internet access may call the Department of Community Services at 908-277-2932 for assistance with signing up for a vaccination alert notification.

Death toll still mounting

As the vaccination rollout continues, the virus continues to take lives in New Jersey.

A total of 1,768 people are hospitalized with the virus statewide as of last Wednesday, and the state reported 20 more deaths from last Wednesday to Thursday.

Fifteen Union County residents passed away from the virus last week. READ MORE: Union County COVID Numbers And Trends This Week

Find out up-to-date information on the types of vaccines and a list of where to get vaccinated in Union County here.

Another milestone

Meanwhile, Overlook discharged its 2,000th coronavirus patient on April 13, a spokesperson said.

A year earlier, in April 2020, hospital emergency rooms were swamped with patients and dealing with shortages of protective equipment, supplies, and advanced knowledge of what the virus might do.

During spring 2020, Overlook was admitting an average of 35 patients a day, said a spokesperson.

"Overlook was able to transform the hospital in a matter of days, tripling its intensive care capacity to keep ahead of increasing admissions," said a recent release. "...Overlook’s doctors, nurses and other providers adapted patient care to include added precautions, heightened applications for methods like proning and positioning, and implemented newly developed therapies such as Remdesivir."

"For a time, many roles blurred as Overlook team members rolled up their sleeves to do what was needed — from surgeons, cardiologists and hospitalists working twelve-hour shifts supporting intensivists in the ICUs, to non-clinical staff serving as temperature takers and in other supportive roles."

Atlantic Health System, a non-profit, operates more than 400 sites of care, including seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, Newton Medical Center in Newton, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison.

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