COVID-19 vaccine providers for kids, healthcare workers mandate update

Tamara Walker, Asbury Park Press
·5 min read

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Now, let's get into it:

Vaccination appointments for young children in New Jersey, 5 to 11 years old, are now available for their first COVID vaccine shots. The federal regulators approved a two-shot regimen in an effort health officials hope will continue to drive down infection cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The vaccine made by Pfizer is one-third the dose of the adult vaccine. It will be delivered in two shots at least three weeks apart. Shots are free. Some providers of the vaccine began taking online appointments after the approval on Tuesday which include:

  • Jersey Shore University Medical Center

  • CVS

  • Walgreens

  • RiteAid

The state Health Department's vaccine finder webpage now includes a tab for "Pfizer 5+" and lists dozens of providers.

More than 17 million health care workers must be vaccinated by Jan. 4 under President Biden's COVID-19 mandate. On Thursday, the Biden Administration released a new rule that would require health care workers across 76,000 hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities to be fully immunized. The vaccine mandate for health workers aims to:

  • reduce the ranks of the unvaccinated

  • prevent workers from getting sick

  • prevent customers from getting sick

  • encouraging millions of Americans to return to work

Health care workers who refuse vaccination do not have the option of weekly testing. Since health facilities possess a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of patients, Biden's plan will allow only health care workers who qualify for a medical or religious exemption to skip the immunization.

NJ COVID VACCINE SITES

Here's the updated list of sites in Monmouth and Ocean counties offering COVID-19 vaccines, according to the state Department of Health.

VaccineFinder.gov is a free online website that will help you find and secure a local appointment with simple instructions.

Monmouth County

  • Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel: Registrations online only at hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

  • CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township: Registrations online only at www.centrastate.com/vaccine

  • Community Health Center of Asbury Park: 1301 Main St.; 732-774-6333; vnachc.org/

  • CVS Pharmacy: 3391 Route 35, Hazlet, 470 Route 36, Highlands, 71 South Broadway, Long Branch; 800-746-7287; cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine.

  • Freehold Family Health Center: 579 Park Ave.; 732-294-2540; vnachc.org/

  • Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune: Registrations online only at hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

  • Keyport Community Health Center: 35 Broad St.; 732-888-4149; https://vnachc.org/

  • Monmouth County Health Department: 50 East Main St.; 732-431-7456; visitmonmouth.com/health

  • Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch: Registrations online only at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.

  • Ocean Health Initiatives: 3600 Route 66; Neptune; 732-363-6655; ohinj.org

  • Red Bank Primary Care Center: 188 East Bergen Pl.; 732-219-6620; vnachc.org/

  • Rite Aid: 1360 Route 36, Hazlet; 596 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls; 4057 Asbury Ave., Suite 8, Tinton Falls; 75 South Main St., Neptune; 200 Wilson Ave., Middletown; 149 Main St., Manasquan; riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier

  • Riverview Medical Center: 1 Riverview Plaza, Red Bank; 732-741-2700.

  • Sam's Club: 320 W. Main St., Freehold, 732-780-0734

  • ShopRite: 280 Route 9; Marlboro; or 3120 Route 35; Hazlet; vaccines.shoprite.com

  • Walmart: 4900 Route 9, Howell, 732-886-9111; 326 W. Main, Freehold, 732-780-3484; 3575 Route 66, Neptune, 732-918-0441.

Ocean County

  • CHEMED: 1771 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 732-364-6666; chemedhealth.org

  • Community Medical Center, Toms River: Registrations online only at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.

  • CVS Pharmacy: 1600 Route 35, Seaside Heights; 421 Lacey Rd., Manchester; 800-746-7287; cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

  • Long Beach Island Health Department: 609-492-1212; lbihealth.com

  • Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Lakewood: Registrations online only at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.

  • Ocean County Health Department: Multiple locations: 800-342 9738; www.ochd.org/covid19-vaccine-update/

  • Ocean Health Initiatives: 10 Stockton Drive, Toms River; 101 2nd St., Lakewood; 798 Route 539, Little Egg Harbor; 732-363-6655; ohinj.org.

  • Ocean Medical Center, Brick: 732-836-4144; hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

  • Rite Aid: 3258 Bridge Ave., Point Pleasant; 159 East Kennedy Blvd., Lakewood; 1041 Burnt Tavern Rd., Brick; 1 North New Prospect Rd., Jackson; riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier

  • Southern Ocean Medical Center: 1173 Beacon Ave., Stafford; 609-597-6011; hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

  • ShopRite: 297 Route 72, Stafford; and 860 Fischer Blvd., Toms River; vaccines.shoprite.com

Local case numbers

We have the town-by-town breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Please have a safe enjoyable weekend. I'll be back in your inbox next week.

Best,

~Tamara Walker, Lead News Assistant ~

I can be reached at twalker@gannettnj.com or Twitter @twilderapp

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: COVID-19 vaccine providers for kids, healthcare workers mandate update