COVID-19 Vaccines will be available at pop-up vaccination sites starting Saturday, May 29 in Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Sandy Hook.
Asbury Park, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced today that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to New Jersey residents and tourists who visit Monmouth County beaches over Memorial Day weekend. The Shot at the Shore program will administer COVID-19 vaccines at three locations along the Jersey Shore over the holiday weekend: Gateway National Recreational Area at Sandy Hook, the gazebo at Pier Village in Long Branch, and in Asbury Park at the arcade on the boardwalk. Pallone made the announcement at a press conference with Governor Phil Murphy and Christopher Rinn, CEO of the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) of Central Jersey Community Health Center.
At Sandy Hook, COVID-19 vaccines will be administered in a drive-through tent provided by the New Jersey EMS task force in parking lot E. Shots will be available from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday. The Long Branch vaccination site will operate on Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM in Pier Village on the boardwalk under the gazebo. The Asbury Park vaccination site will operate from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Arcade on the boardwalk.
Individuals will receive one of the three COVID-19 vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed by Walmart pharmacists to anyone 12 years of age or older. Individuals who receive the Pfizer vaccine this weekend will be able to get their second shot within 21 days at any Walmart Pharmacy location in New Jersey. Nurses from the VNA will administer either the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or Moderna vaccine to anyone 18 years old and older. Individuals who receive the Moderna vaccine will be able to schedule their second shot at any site in New Jersey administering that vaccine.
“We know that COVID-19 vaccines are key to safely re-opening our economy and returning to normal patterns of life. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I fought to make sure that these vaccines are readily available to anyone who wants one,” said Congressman Pallone. “As New Jersey begins to re-open, I encourage everyone who is able to get a COVID-19 vaccine to take advantage of this opportunity so we can keep everyone in our state healthy. I would like to thank Governor Murphy for joining us today and for all the work he’s done to get our state through this public health crisis. I also want to thank Christopher Rinn and his team who helped spearhead this effort to get New Jersey vaccinated.”
“More than four million New Jerseyans have rolled up their sleeves and are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Governor Murphy. “Together, we are moving forward in our recovery, but we must continue working to reach our goal 4.7 million fully vaccinated New Jersey adults. We are grateful for the collaboration between our federal, state, and local governments, as well as our public and private partners, and their commitment to providing easy and equitable access to vaccines. Through our ‘Shots at the Shore’ program, we’re giving New Jerseyans yet another reason to visit our beautiful beaches this Memorial Day Weekend.”
“I'm proud that our world-class team at the VNA of Central Jersey Community Health Center has played a small role in helping our state achieve a 70% initial vaccine rate and remain a top performer in each vaccine program metric since the rollout began. But that doesn't mean we reduce our efforts; it means we focus on finding innovative ways to reach the unvaccinated. This includes providing choice of vaccine to those seeking it, providing clear, giving information to those with concerns, and embracing the busy lives of New Jerseyans by meeting people on their terms,” said Christopher Rinn, CEO of the Visiting Nurses Association of Center Jersey Community Health Center. “With the expertise of our dedicated healthcare professionals, the invaluable resources of our logistical partners and the leadership from our state, county, and local governments, the Shot at the Shore program's innovative approach will help us reach thousands in just a few short days, further protecting the health of our state and getting us one step closer to normal.”
Pallone authored provisions in the American Rescue Plan to establish a national COVID-19 vaccination program to improve the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. President Biden signed the bill into law in March.
Pallone also advocated for the creation of the Community Health Centers Vaccination Program and worked with the Biden Administration to further expand the program and ensure additional centers in New Jersey would become eligible. As a result, all Community Health centers around the country became eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines directly from the federal government. In March, Pallone announced that Community Health Centers in New Jersey would receive nearly $130 million to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and preventative health services.
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