Whoopi Goldberg Visits East Orange For COVID Vaccine Event

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A special guest is expected to appear at a “no appointment necessary” COVID-19 vaccine and testing event in East Orange on Friday: Whoopi Goldberg.

The award-winning actor, who lives nearby in West Orange, is among the named guests at the event. It takes place starting at noon at the ShopRite parking lot, 533 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in East Orange.

According to an advisory from the city, no appointments are necessary and walk-up visits will be accepted. The site will be administering the two-dose Moderna shot or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines to anyone who is eligible; visitors can choose between them. The Pfizer vaccine is the only version currently approved for people under the age of 18. Read More: FEMA Vaccine Site In Essex County Serving All NJ Children Ages 12 And Up

For questions or to book an appointment, click here.

There will also be rapid COVID-19 testing available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Friday’s event, which Gov. Phil Murphy's office plans to livestream (see below).

New Jersey state health officials have begun releasing COVID-19 vaccine numbers for individual counties and towns, which can be seen here.

• See related article: NJ Governor Says 2nd Shots Lagging In 4 Essex County Municipalities

Goldberg, who recently sent a video thank-you message to workers at University Hospital in Newark, isn’t the only celebrity to lend their star power to the vaccination effort in Essex County.

In March, Queen Latifah, a Newark native who grew up in East Orange, returned to her old stomping grounds to get her own COVID-19 vaccine at Essex County College. Latifah visited the county-run site there with a few family members, as well as some crew members from her new series, "The Equalizer," which has been filming throughout Essex County.

"This shot in the arm is here to help our bodies fight this thing," she said. "I want to get on with the business of living life. This is about family and being able to spend treasured time, precious time with one another. Getting the vaccine is one big step toward that."

• See related article: Queen Latifah Gets COVID Vaccine, Films 'The Equalizer' In Newark

Later that month, the same site got another celebrity visit from actor and activist Rosario Dawson, who dropped by to volunteer and get her own shot.

"You know, the science tells us that these vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID infection and serious illness," said Dawson, who recently moved to Newark.

"They are the best weapon we have – along with mask-wearing, social distancing, hand-washing, and other measures recommended by the CDC and public health officials – to combat the deadly pandemic that has been ravaging our country and our communities for the past year," Dawson continued. "And if enough people get the vaccine, they have the potential to help end this once and for all."

• See related article: Rosario Dawson Gets Vaccine In Newark: 'The Best Weapon We Have'

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