As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the question on everyone’s mind is when and where they can get their vaccine to stay safe and start the return to normal life.
Luckily, New Jersey is using an efficient rollout strategy that has already begun to make significant progress in vaccine distribution. In fact, New Jersey has administered more than one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since December 15, 2020, according to state officials.
On Monday Gov. Phil Murphy announced the milestone, adding that 224,000 of the 1 million are second doses.
"Even with the continued scarcity in supply and the rescheduling caused by snowstorms, we have put 500,000 vaccine doses in arms in just a little over two weeks," said Murphy.
As the rollout continues, more first doses of the vaccine are being distributed, with a 22% increase week over week. This good news is exciting, but there are still long wait times due to the limited vaccine supply.
So, how does a Bergen county resident go about getting the vaccine?
First, you need to identify if you are eligible during the current vaccination phase, which is Phase 1A. Under this phase, you are eligible if you are a paid or unpaid healthcare worker, a resident or a staff member of long-term care facilities, a first responder, an individual over 65, or an individual from ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus, as defined by the CDC.
Still unsure? Here are the detailed categories of individuals eligible for the vaccine:
Paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings, including but not limited to:
Licensed healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists
Staff like receptionists, janitors, mortuary services, laboratory technicians
Consultants and contractors who are not directly employed by the facility
Unpaid workers like health professional students, trainees, volunteers, and essential caregivers
Community health workers, doulas, and public health professionals like Medical Reserve Corps
Personnel with variable venues like EMS, paramedics, funeral staff, and autopsy workers
All workers in acute, pediatric, and behavioral health hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers
All workers in health facilities like psychiatric facilities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and rehabs
All workers in clinic-based settings like urgent care clinics, dialysis centers, and family planning sites
All workers in long-term care settings like nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and others
All workers in occupational-based healthcare settings like health clinics within workplaces, shelters, jails, colleges, and universities, and K-12 schools
All workers in community-based healthcare settings like PACE and Adult Living Community Nursing
All workers in home-based settings like hospice, home care, and visiting nurse services
All workers in office-based healthcare settings like physician and dental offices
All workers in public health settings like local health departments, LINCS agencies, harm reduction centers, and medicinal marijuana programs
All workers in retail, independent, and institutional pharmacies
Other paid or unpaid people who work in a healthcare setting, who may have direct or indirect contact with infectious persons or materials, and who cannot work from home.
All residents and workers of long-term care and high-risk congregate-care facilities, including:
Skilled nursing facilities
Veterans homes
Assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and personal care homes
Group homes like residential care homes, adult family homes, adult foster homes, and intellectual and developmental disabilities group homes
HUD 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program residences
Institutional settings like psychiatric hospitals, correctional institutions, county jails, and juvenile detention facilities (for eligible minors, e.g. 16+ years of age may be eligible for Pfizer vaccine under the emergency use authorization)
Other vulnerable, congregate, long-term settings
Sworn law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders, including:
New Jersey State Police troopers
Municipal and county police officers
Campus police officers
Detectives in prosecutors' offices and state agencies
State agency/authority law enforcement officers (e.g. State Park Police and Conservation Officers, Palisades Interstate Parkway Officers, Human Services police, and NJTransit police)
Investigator, Parole, and Secured Facilities Officers
Aeronautical Operations Specialists
Sworn Federal Law Enforcement Officers and Special Agents
Bi-State law enforcement officers (e.g. Port Authority)
Court Security Officers
Paid and unpaid members of firefighting services (structural and wildland)
Paid and unpaid members of Search and Rescue Units including technical rescue units and HAZMAT teams
Paid and unpaid firefighters who provide emergency medical services
Paid and unpaid members of Industrial units that perform Fire, Rescue, and HAZMAT services
Members of State Fire Marshal's Offices
Bi-State Fire Service Personnel (e.g. Port Authority)
Individuals aged 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus. These conditions include:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Down Syndrome
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Now you know whether or not you are eligible for the vaccine. Another important question people ask is where here can you get it?
Here is our comprehensive list of COVID-19 Vaccine Centers in Bergen County:
Valley Hospital
223 North Van Dien Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ
201-447-8643
North Hudson Community Action Corporation (Three Locations)
197 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ
535 Midland Ave., Garfield, NJ
25 E. Salem St., Suite 600, Hackensack, NJ
Telephone for all locations — 201-210-0200
Ridgewood Village Hall
131 N. Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Annex
230 East Ridgewood Avenue
Paramus, NJ07652
Bergen
18 years
(800) 730-2762
Hackensack Meridian Health System
Multiple Locations
Bergen
18 years
(833) 565-0404
Holy Name Medical Center
Richard Rodda Community Center Teaneck, NJ
Bergen
18 years
Paramus Board of Health
1 Jockfish Square Paramus, NJ
Bergen
18 years
(201) 265-2100
ShopRite Pharmacy #169
40 Nathaniel Place
Englewood NJ 07631
Bergen
18 years
(856) 627-8137
ShopRite Pharmacy of Rochelle Park
220 West Passaic St. Rochelle Park, NJ 07662
Bergen
18 years
(856) 627-8137
Haworth Apothecary
169 Terrace Street
Haworth, NJ 07641
Bergen
18 years
(201) 384-7171
If you are eligible and there are vaccine centers near you, there are three main options to get an appointment:
#1 Pre-register and make an appointment through the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System. Register here.
#2 Make an appointment directly with a vaccination location.
#3 If you work or volunteer at a select healthcare facility, make an appointment through your place of work.
Now you have all the tools to make a vaccine appointment in Bergen County if you are eligible. Stay tuned for more updates as we move into later phases of the vaccine.
Additional Information COVID-19 Vaccination Information from the State:
More information on who is eligible for vaccination under different phases.
COVID-19 vaccines will be made available to individuals regardless of insurance coverage status. Individuals won't pay coinsurance, deductibles, or copayments. More information about insurance coverage and vaccines for uninsured individuals.
For more information on how vaccines work, vaccine trials, vaccine safety, visit covid19.nj.gov/vaccine.
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