Join The 'Herd' At Turtle Back Zoo COVID Vaccine Clinic

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Turtle Back Zoo will come with a special treat: free admission.

Essex County will hold a vaccination event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5 at the zoo, which is located at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Anyone who gets their first dose of a vaccine at the event will receive a voucher for one free admission to the zoo.

According to county officials:

“Visitors are eligible to receive a voucher if they are receiving their first dose of the vaccine. The voucher can be used through Sept. 1. No appointment is necessary. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be administered. People ages 18 and older are eligible to receive the J&J vaccine. People ages 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.”

Officials added:

“There isn’t any out of pocket costs to receive the vaccine. However, if someone does have medical insurance, Essex County is allowed to bill the insurance carrier a $40 fee for each dose of the vaccine. If a visitor does not have medical insurance, the cost of the vaccine will be covered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund.”

“Significant progress has been made to get the public vaccinated for COVID-19,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“However more work must be done to get at least 70 percent of the population vaccinated so herd immunity can occur,” DiVincenzo continued. “Offering visitors to Turtle Back free admission may be an incentive for some people who are hesitant to get vaccinated.”

Turtle Back Zoo is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To promote social distancing, tickets must be purchased in advance.

• See related article: More Essex County Breweries Join 'Beer For COVID Shot' Campaign
• See related article: The Free Stuff You Can Get With A COVID-19 Vaccination In NJ

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