Pixabay/Atlantic City Convention Center will be a mega site for COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Atlantic County Division of Public Health has announced COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 12-14 for individuals in Phase 1A that now includes uniformed police and fire personnel in addition to frontline health care workers.
The Division of Public Health administered first doses of the Moderna vaccine to approximately 725 individuals at its initial clinics held Jan. 5-7 at the Mays Landing campus of Atlantic Cape Community College, 5100 Black Horse Pike.
Everything ran very smoothly, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said. I have received nothing but compliments about how well-organized and professionally managed our first clinics were. I am extremely proud of Public Health Officer Pat Diamond and her team as well as the many volunteers who are dedicating their time and talents to help protect our residents from this deadly virus.
Appointments for the next clinics will be available between 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. each of the three days and can be made on the county's website at www.aclink.org. Walk-ins will not be accepted. As more vaccine becomes available additional dates will be added.
The New Jersey Vaccination Scheduling System is now permitting residents to pre-register to receive the vaccine and to help determine which phase they may be included for vaccination. A link to the portal is also available on the county's homepage.
There are approximately 650,000 eligible health care workers, long-term care residents and staff identified in Phase 1A in addition to uniformed police and fire so it could be a few weeks before the state is ready to move into Phase 1B.
At this time, Phase 1B will include residents 75 and older and frontline essential workers such as grocery store staff, transportation and delivery drivers, education and childcare workers, among others. Phase 1C will be comprised of other essential workers, adults 65-74 with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe COVID-19. Phase 2 would follow the completion of Phases 1A, B and C, and would include the general public. The state has the authority to modify the populations designated in these phases as necessary.
In addition to the county clinics, held in cooperation with Atlantic Cape Community College, individuals in Phase 1A may also make appointments to be vaccinated at some area Shop Rite pharmacies. In Atlantic County this includes the Absecon and Somers Point locations. CVS and Walgreens have contracted with the state to help vaccinate residents and staff in long-term care facilities.
The state has also identified the Atlantic City Convention Center as one of six mega sites in the state that will provide vaccinations. County health officials are currently working with state officials to prepare for its opening which the state anticipates could be before the end of January.
The good news is the vaccine is here and we are all working very hard to make sure it reaches those who need it and want it. I understand how anxious people are to receive it and how difficult it can be to patiently wait our turns, Levinson said, but like the other 20 counties, we are at the mercy of the vaccine supply and how it is allocated.
