CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ (4/19/2021) - Beginning April 19, the Governor’s office has announced that all NJ residents age 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Cumberland County Department of Health is currently offering the Moderna vaccine at their clinics which will be open to all residents age 18 and older. As of April 12, Johnson & Johnson vaccine use is halted by the NJ Department of Health, the CDC and the FDA due to very rare cases of blood clot issues.
When you get vaccinated, it may help protect people around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness. It is not currently known how long protection lasts for those who are vaccinated, which is why it is important to continue practicing precautions like wearing a mask when in public, practicing social distancing, and avoiding medium and large size crowds, as well as washing your hands often. We do know that the COVID-19 vaccination will help protect individuals from getting COVID-19, and more specifically from experiencing a severe case of COVID-19.
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose series, or two weeks after their single dose (Johnson & Johnson). Those who are fully vaccinated can visit friends and family who are also fully vaccinated without a mask and travel domestically without quarantining after travel.
After receiving your vaccine, you may experience arm soreness/redness, or swelling; symptoms including chills, fever, tiredness, headache, muscle pain. To help with any discomfort drink plenty of water, use/exercise your arm where you received the vaccine or take over the counter medicine like acetaminophen.
Individuals who are concerned about their allergies or chronic diseases and women who are pregnant should contact their primary care provider to discuss their specific medical concerns and history. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and unlikely to pose a specific risk.
To schedule an appointment with the Cumberland County Department of Health for a vaccination, please visit www.cumberlandcountynjvaccination.org. All COVID-19 vaccines are free, no insurance necessary. New appointments are released every Thursday. The Cumberland County Department of Health knows that scheduling an appointment online may present a difficulty for some individuals in our county.
Individuals who live in Cumberland County and are over 60 and/or disabled without internet access, can contact the Office on Aging for assistance at (856) 453-2220. For those that may have transportation issues, call the Cumberland Area Transit System (CATS) at (856) 691-7799. Or you can visit, https://modivcare.com/ formerly LogistiCare to arrange transportation.
If you recently visited one of our vaccination clinics and you have lost or misplaced your card, you can visit https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/i-lost-my-covid-19-vaccination-card.-how-do-i-get-a-new-copy to request a copy of your immunization records, or contact your primary care provider. If those options do not work, you can call the health dept. nursing division at 327-7602 x7120.
Stay up to date with information by visiting our website www.ccdoh.org or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CCDOH.