Hackensack Meridian Health Administers 500,000th Vaccine in Fight Against Covid-19

New Jersey’s largest health network joins top U.S. hospitals and health care institutions in a nationwide campaign to encourage adults to get vaccinated 

Hackensack Meridian Health announced today that it has administered its 500,000th COVID-19 vaccine, four months after launching its vaccine deployment program on December 15, 2020.

“While today’s achievement is significant, and I commend our vaccination team for their extraordinary efforts in reaching this milestone, we must work even harder to improve vaccination rates, achieve herd immunity and end the pandemic,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health. “The vaccine is safe, effective and saves lives, which is why we are committing additional resources to promote awareness, convenience and availability.”

Anyone 16 or older who lives, works or studies in New Jersey can schedule a vaccine at https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19/schedule-now.

Since December 2020, New Jersey’s largest and most integrated health network has invested in expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines, launching 25 administration sites and forging community partnerships that have delivered vaccines to underserved neighborhoods and people in need. The following are just several examples:

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine: The school’s Human Dimension program has helped partnering local school districts book appointments for hundreds of vaccine doses. Some students are volunteering to be trained and then administer vaccines at the Meadowlands Mega Site.

Vaccination Mega Site: In partnership with the New Jersey State Department of Health, State Police, and National Guard, Hackensack Meridian Health opened and is currently operating the Bergen County COVID-19 Vaccination Mega Site at the former Meadowlands Racetrack, vaccinating as many as 4,000 people daily.

African American Churches: Partnered with New Jersey clergy members to create new vaccination sites at several African American Churches across the state to enhance access to the vaccine for congregants, neighboring communities and communities of color.

Senior Citizens: At Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center, Manisha Parulekar’s geriatrics team with the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health are making appointments for patients who are not proficient online or have computers. Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center’s get-out-the-vaccine program is designed to improve COVID-19 vaccine access for older adults and other vulnerable individuals in Hudson and Bergen counties — including adults 65 and older and younger individuals with medical problems. Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Old Bridge is the only location in Old Bridge administering the vaccine and partners with Old Bridge Township to vaccinate teachers.

Teachers: Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center is offering direct vaccinations to surrounding community school district teachers and staff including Edison, Metuchen, and Woodbridge and private schools such as St. Joseph’s, St. Andrew’s and others. Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Perth Amboy has partnered with the City of Perth Amboy to vaccinate teachers, in addition to senior citizens and eligible city workers.

In an effort to reassure the public that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and necessary to achieve herd immunity and return to normal activities, Hackensack Meridian Health has joined a coalition of 60 top hospitals and health care institutions in "Get the Vaccine to Save Lives," a nationwide campaign to encourage adults to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The campaign hopes to reach adults who are hesitant to receive a vaccine, including racial and minority ethnic groups and people living in rural communities. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey published March 30, 17% of the public say they will take a wait-and-see approach before getting it themselves, and another 20% say they will never get a vaccine or will only get it if required to do so for work, school or other activities. This leaves a significant portion of the population at risk of going unvaccinated.

“Our network is excited to celebrate another breakthrough in our efforts to vaccinate our communities,” said Regina Foley, PhD, MBA, RN, senior vice president integration/transformation for Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are also grateful to our team members for going above and beyond to enhance our distribution efforts. We look forward to protecting even more friends and neighbors against this deadly virus now that eligibility is expanded.”