Update on COVID-19 Vaccine

Good evening,

This is Mayor Tim Donohue

As we continue to move forward together through the COVID-19 State of Emergency, I wanted to reach out to our residents to share the most update information we have on the COVID-19 Vaccine roll out.

The vaccine program here is being overseen by the State of New Jersey through the Cape May County Health Department.  The county is vaccinating resident who are currently eligible under State guidelines.  Most frontline healthcare workers and first responders have received the vaccine.

The focus of the program is now on Senior Citizens over 65 and those with underlying healthcare conditions that put them at higher risk.

The vaccine is administered in two doses, 2-4 weeks apart.  Receiving the vaccine is a four step process.

Step (1) You must first register for the vaccine. You can register by visiting opens in a new windowwww.covidvaccine.nj.gov or by calling 855-568-0545, if you do not have access to a computer.

Step (2) You will receive an email that you are “eligible” for the vaccine – this is not your appointment. This is confirming your eligibility.

Step (3) You will receive another email that you can now make an appointment. You will need to follow the instructions to locate a vaccination site near you and make your appointment.

Step (4) Once you have your appointment, please make sure that you show up! Do not show up early. You will be seen based on the time of your appointment. At the vaccination site, you will be provided information on how to schedule your second dose appointment.

Again, this is a two part process and you will receive an additional email with instructions for scheduling your second appointment.

Remember, if you do not have access to a computer, please call 856-568-0545. Unfortunately, it may take some time to get through.

The recent expansion of eligibility has created a pool of 4 million NJ residents trying to register for the vaccine and make their first appointment. However, the number of doses currently available for distribution falls far short of meeting the current demand.

This has created a significant backlog that will inevitably lead to long wait times for vaccinations.

The Cape May County Health Department is prepared to deliver 1000 doses of vaccine per day. Their long-range goal is to inoculate 70,000 CMC residents before Memorial Day, in hopes of achieving herd immunity and increasing the odds for a return to normalcy for the Summer Season of 2021.

But, this is all based on the availability of the vaccine. Currently Cape May County is receiving only 1000 doses per week.

This process is not simple and it is new and foreign to most of us. It will require patience and perseverance from us all. We can only hope and pray that this vaccine process is the beginning of the end of this nightmare.

Please stay strong and stay safe. We will get through all this together.

For the best information from the County Health Department visit opens in a new windowhttps://www.capemaycountynj.gov/ or call the CMC health Department at 609-463-6581

Good night and God Bless.