103-Year-Old Toms River Woman Receives Coronavirus Vaccine

TOMS RIVER, NJ — At 103 years young, Hedwig Rogine is no stranger to global pandemics, having already lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.

On Friday, the Toms River resident was vaccinated for the coronavirus after participating in the Ocean County Health Department Clinic that was held at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, local officials announced over the weekend.

Rogine was accompanied to the clinic by her son, Joseph, and told local health officials that there is one major difference between the COVID-19 health crisis that is approaching its one-year anniversary in the United States and the pandemic she lived through as a young girl and that infected 500 million people worldwide — face-coverings.

Rogine told county health officials, however, that she is impressed with how dedicated local residents have been in wearing masks given the length of time the pandemic has lasted, health officials wrote in a Facebook post over the weekend.

“It’s tough,” she said of the mask mandates, according to health officials.

Ocean County Health officials reported Sunday that 53,140 county residents have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began last March. That number includes 189 new confirmed cases which were reported on Sunday.

Local health officials are currently vaccinating eligible residents at Toms River High School North/RWJ Barnabas Healthcare Arena from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. Vaccinations are also taking place at Southern Regional Middle School from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Appointments are required.