Updated Information As Ocean County COVID Vaccine Rollout Begins

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Updated information has been released as health care workers have now begun receiving vaccinations against the COVID-19. Ocean County officials have also begun to distribute its first 1,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine as sites have been announced.

The state also has released the list that shows, in order, when everybody in New Jersey can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Here's what you should know. Read more: When Can You Get COVID-19 Vaccine In NJ? Here's The New 2021 List

Here are the sites:

Ocean County's first shots were administered on Tuesday at the RWJ Barnabas Healthcare Arena at Toms River High School North, through a partnership between the Ocean County Health Department, the Toms River Schools, the RWJ Barnabas and Hackensack Meridian health care systems. Through Dec. 31, 850 people had received their initial inoculations.

"This will kick off what we expect to be months of COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout Ocean County," said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the health department. "We have been working with the state and our partners on the logistics of how to handle the distribution. It’s imperative this is done correctly."

The shots are being administered by appointment only to those in the state and federal designation phase 1A, which includes health care workers.

Regenye said the 1,500 doses are specifically for health care workers (paid and unpaid) who did not receive the vaccine at area hospitals or at long-term care facilities. The group includes public health care workers, school nurses, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical services, among others.

The county is providing about 300 shots per day, said Daniel Regenye, the public health coordinator for the Ocean County Health Department. The health department has already made arrangements to open additional vaccinations sites throughout the county, including Southern Ocean County.

"While we expect the demand will be high, there is a process we are required to follow," he said. "Hopefully the supply of vaccine will continue to increase quickly and distribution will do the same."

Health care workers can make an appointment for the vaccination through the Ocean County Health Department website. Regenye said it will follow a similar procedure to the one used for making an appointment for the coronavirus testing site at Ocean County College, Toms River.

Regenye said the health department has hired more than 50 nurses to help give the vaccinations.

"We are well-positioned to be set up to distribute the vaccine whether it be at the arena or the future clinics that we will have," he said.

Regenye said that while the general public is waiting on the vaccine, following some simple steps like wearing a mask, social distancing, frequent hand washing and staying away from large crowds will help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

"We have to continue to make every effort to stop the spread of the virus," he said.

There were 31,422 cases of the coronavirus in Ocean County as of Tuesday, and 1,246 Ocean County residents have died from complications of the virus.

Regenye said large scale vaccinations are part of the health department’s emergency plan. During the H1N1 outbreak, the health department distributed in excess of 30,000 shots. And, at its height, the department had provided upwards of 45,000 flu vaccinations.

The county has been providing flu vaccinations this fall as well.

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, which was given FDA approval Dec. 19, will be given in two doses. An appointment will be scheduled for the second dose upon the completion of the first one.

Questions about the COVID vaccine can be directed to the Ocean County Health Department COVID hotline at 732-341-9700, Ext. 7411. Updated information can also be found on the Health Department’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ochd.org and its website at OCHD.org.

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