The Hudson County Vaccine Distribution Center reached a new milestone on Friday on its first day of offering vaccinations to seniors and residents with underlying health conditions.
Since opening last month the Center, overseen by County Executive Tom DeGise’s Vaccine Task Force and operated by the Hudson Regional Health Commission, has now administered 94% of the vaccines it has received, well above the state’s recommended 60% threshold.
“Over the past three weeks, the Hudson County Vaccine Task Force has been working around the clock to administer COVID-19 vaccines to our healthcare workers and first responders,” Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise said. “Because of the dedication and commitment of our frontline heroes, our county-operated vaccination center is surpassing all state goals. We will continue to expand our operations to ensure that every Hudson County resident has access to this lifesaving vaccine when they become eligible.”
By the end of the day on Friday, the vaccination center will have vaccinated 2,820 individuals, with 700 scheduled appointments booked today. The remaining vaccines Hudson County currently has on hand are scheduled to be administered on Monday.
The County anticipates its vaccine stockpile to be replenished on Tuesday. Within 24 hours of Governor Murphy’s announcement expanding vaccine eligibility, 3,500 individuals have requested to be vaccinated at the County's vaccination center.
“The Hudson Regional Health Commission has organized a team of nurses and healthcare professionals to administer over 700 COVID-19 vaccines daily at the County’s Vaccine Distribution Center,” Executive Director Carrie Nawrocki said. “We are committed to using all of the resources at our disposal to administer every vaccine that comes through our doors in a timely manner to keep Hudson County residents safe and healthy.”
Hudson County was the first in New Jersey to open a county-run public vaccination center and began vaccinating individuals within hours of receiving its first shipment.
The Vaccine Distribution Center is operating through a collaborative effort with the Hudson Regional Health Commission, the Hudson County Improvement Authority, the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management, the County Department of Roads and Public Property, the Hudson County Schools of Technology and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
The center is open by appointment only and is operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Those currently eligible include doctors and nurses within private practices, dentists, hygienists, community and public health workers, funeral directors, paid and unpaid Emergency Medical Technicians, uniformed police and firefighters, those working in labs with infectious material, individuals over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions.
The center is located at the USS Juneau Center, Office of Emergency Management is located at 110 Hackensack Avenue in Kearny.
For more information or to register and schedule an appointment, please visit hudsoncovidvax.org