Displaying items by tag: covid

Millions of mini-doses of COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be shipped to states this week after the federal government gave the go-ahead for shots in all children as young as 6 months old. But the rollout of this vaccination program will look different from past initiatives, at least in New Jersey. Pediatric vaccines will be available at the state’s two remaining regional COVID-19 mega-sites, but pediatricians and family doctors, community clinics and local health departments will also be among the first to offer the tot-sized doses. Drugstores have also requested early shipments. NJ state officials have provided millions of dollars to community-based organizations to operate testing and vaccination programs and develop effective strategies for attracting New Jerseyans. Many groups are focusing on families with young children, now that children under 5 years old are eligible for a COVID-19 shot. Ideas include weaving COVID-19 immunizations into regular well-child visits and back-to-school checkups, pop-up clinics with dedicated outreach in advance, and education campaigns targeted to under-vaccinated areas. Generally speaking, children are at less risk of bad COVID-19 outcomes than older, vulnerable adults, but they are far from immune and health experts agree that the protective power of the COVID-19 vaccines, while not as effective against some new coronavirus strains, is undeniable.

The Board of Commissioners, in partnership with Cooper University Health Care and the Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing, began to administer the COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old on November 4th. The Camden County Health Hub, located on the Camden County College campus in Blackwood, will hold the first appointments to give the Pfizer vaccine. Residents who would like schedule their child for a Pfizer vaccine can go to https://www.cooperhealth.org/ or can call (856) 549-0530. Next week, the administration of the vaccine for children and regular Health Hub operational hours will be expanded to Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The expansion will provide the ability to add hundreds of new appointments throughout the day. Scheduling information here.

The Cherry Hill Mall Vaccination Site located at 2000 Route 38 in Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 is offering Covid-19 Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccination and a $25 gift card for every vaccination provided by the Camden Coalition on the following dates: Friday, October 8th from 4:00-7:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 9th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 10th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. This event is located in 76 Forward on the upper-level Nordstrom's Wing across from Forever 21. It's sponsored by NJ Department of Health, 76 Forward, Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, and Cooper. In addition to attending one of the pop-up or mobile vaccination events below, you can use the NJ Vaccine Appointment Finder to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at a time and location convenient for you. Check here weekly for new vaccination dates and times. The following local Rite-Aid and CVS pharmacy stores have vaccinations available by appointment.

Florida has seen at least three days of record-breaking COVID-19 cases since the start of August. Overall, the number of new daily cases has continued to increase in Florida and the state has become the new epicenter for COVID. According to CDC data, the state's seven-day moving average number of cases has continued to increase since mid-July to numbers that the state had not seen throughout the pandemic. The situation is especially dire in Louisiana and Florida, which have the country’s worst hospitalization rates. As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 500 students in Palm Beach were quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 just two days into the school year. On Friday, the Broward County Teachers Union announced that three unvaccinated teachers died of COVID-19 within 24 hours this week. Florida and Texas alone have accounted for nearly 40% of new hospitalizations across the country. Florida is 3rd in overall cases of Covid and 4th in overall deaths, Texas is 2nd in overall cases and 3rd in overall deaths from Covid so far. Simultaneously, the crush of new COVID-19 infections in Mississippi and Tennessee has become so dire that the state has turned to efforts reminiscent of the earliest days of the U.S. pandemic - the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) opening up a 20-bed field hospital in its parking garage on Friday morning. In Mississippi, where daily cases have doubled in the last two weeks, more than 4,400 students were quarantined from August 2 to 6, according to state data. Low vaccination rates and the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus have driven a surge of COVID-19 cases across the United States, overwhelming some state medical systems. Southern states, many with vaccination rates well below the national average, have seen explosive case growth. As of August 12th, although 83% of Texans are age 12 and older and eligible for a vaccine, only 44.8% are fully vaccinated. People between the ages of 20 and 59 now account for a higher proportion of COVID-19 hospitalizations than in January.

Mayor Brennan is urging all Merchantville residents to get vaccinated. In a Facebook post on Friday he shared that our vaccination rates are good but they can be better -- much better! The transmission rates for COVID-19 as a result of the delta variant are increasing and cases in our area have doubled in just the past week. Getting vaccinated saves lives and protects the lives of our friends and loved ones. As of August 6, 2021, Merchantville's fully vaccinated residents included 93% of those 65 and over, 74% of those 30 and over and 73% of those 18 and over. Partially vaccinated residents include 97% of those 65 and over, 79% of those 30 and over and 78% of those 18. Both pharmacies in Merchantville, CVS and Rite Aid, are administering vaccines and have availability this and every week. You can also use the NJ's appointment finder here for walk-in and scheduling options. Please get vaccinated and if you need assistance, please contact the Borough of Merchantville at 856-662-2474 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Let's get all age groups in our town fully vaccinated!

The Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia are teaming up to create a pop-up vaccination site for 588 South Jersey veterans on Saturday, January 30th. Vaccinations will be provided at the Harry Williams Community Center located at the intersection of North Black Horse Pike and Broadway in Runnemede. Vaccinations will be available by appointment only between 7:45 a.m and 2:15 p.m. Eligible veterans can call (215) 823-4014 to make an appointment until all available slots have been filled. The following conditions must be met to be considered eligible: must be a veteran (no spouses or relatives at this time); must be already enrolled for VA benefits; and, must be at least 75 years of age; or at least 65 years of age with a serious health condition.

On September 25th, owner Jeannie Francis announced with great sorrow and sadness that she will be closing her storefront shop at 23 North Centre Street in Merchantville, Spirit To Sole Connections. She will still maintain her retail shop on line and all of their products can be purchased and shipped to you through her website: www.spirit2soleconnection.com  Jeannie, a Reflexology therapist, Reiki Master, Master Herbalist and Master Gardener, opened this center for healing therapy, enlightenment and fun in March 2015. When this virus clears, she plans to offer services from my home, or will come to your home. The shop closing will happen in October and she will let everyone know the details as they are made. Next month, stop in to pick up a bag of your favorite, organically grown, herbal tea and thank Jeannie for her contribution to our business community!

The CDC director and several other government officials testified before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies and reported that face masks may provide more protection than coronavirus vaccine. Face coverings are “the most powerful public health tool” the nation has against the coronavirus and might even provide better protection against it than a vaccine, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told lawmakers Wednesday. “We have clear scientific evidence they work, and they are our best defense,” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said, “I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against Covid than when I take a Covid vaccine.” Redfield also predicted that it will take “six to nine” months to get every American vaccinated, saying the U.S. should have enough doses to return to “regular life” by the third quarter of next year. 

According to WHYY, New Jersey reported another 518 cases of coronavirus on Friday, September 11th, bringing the cumulative total over the last six months of the pandemic to 195,888 positive cases. The state also reported another nine deaths related to the virus, bringing the total to 14,234 confirmed fatalities and 1,789 probable deaths from COVID-19. The state’s rate of transmission was 1.08, meaning for every 100 people testing positive, the virus spreads to 108 more people. Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli noted that young people are driving new cases through large social gatherings as well as the return of some college students to campus. People aged 14-18 accounted for 4% of the new positive cases, and residents between the ages of 19-24 made up 6% of new cases. Camden County urges youth to make sure they keep their friends and family safe through a new ad campaign - "Protect Your Circle".