10th District Legislators Continue to Stress Need for Mobile Vaccination Units at Senior Communities

In an effort to ensure that senior citizens and disabled residents have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano have sent another letter (click here for PDF) to Governor Phil Murphy again urging him to adopt their proposal to send mobile vaccination units to senior communities.

Prior requests, including a letter sent on January 14, have not been answered by the Governor’s Office.

“Frustrations are mounting for our senior residents who either cannot get through to schedule an appointment or they need to find someone to drive them out of their county to vaccination mega sites,” said Senator Holzapfel. “This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately by the Governor and his Administration. For weeks we have demanded that the Governor establish a plan that prioritizes senior citizens like he originally promised.”

As more vaccines become available statewide, the 10th District legislators point to their idea to allow mobile units to bring vaccines to elderly residents in 55 and older adult communities and authorize the distribution for vaccines at community clubhouses or another location within the development.

“We commend the Ocean County Health Department and the Ocean County Freeholders who have worked tirelessly to meet the demand and vaccinate our residents as quickly as possible,” stated Assemblyman McGuckin. “They have overcome many challenges and efficiently vaccinated thousands of people in Ocean County during this unprecedented health crisis.

“With that said, as our supply increases that will be the time for the Governor to devise a plan which includes bringing vaccines right to the door step of our senior population,” continued McGuckin. “Mobile units can effectively vaccinate the thousands of our senior residents who live in adult communities without the hassle of driving to crowded mega sites.”

Currently in Palm Beach County Florida, mobile medical units that are used for COVID-19 testing are being proposed to administer the vaccines to their senior citizens. New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan are also considering this proposal in order to prioritize the senior population.

“New Jersey has an opportunity to lead the nation with an innovative and accessible alternative to vaccine supersites,” concluded Assemblyman Catalano. “This is a common sense solution which will alleviate the burden on seniors and their family members so they can begin to put this pandemic behind them.”