‘Boost NJ’ Vaccination Effort Coming Dec. 15

By Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief On Dec 8, 2021

Next Wednesday will mark the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccination administered in the state. To mark the occasion during the current increase in COVID cases, specifically due to the DELTA variant, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state will host a Boost NJ Day on Dec. 15.

Vaccination sites across the state will be urged to host walk in booster clinics for people who qualify for a COVID booster shot.

“The added protection of a booster is not a bonus, but a necessity. And there is no better way to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the first vaccination than by getting the booster shot,” Murphy said at today’s COVID-19 press briefing.

State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said that as of today, 34% of the 4.5 million New Jersey residents eligible for a booster have received one. “We are averaging about 35,000 booster doses each day, but we need to do better,” she said.

“Walk in availability and extended hours [at vaccination sites and clinics] are important in order to make access to boosters as easy as possible,” Persichilli said, adding that more details on Boost NJ Day will be made during the coming week and that a list of participating clinics will be made available on COVID19.NJ.gov.

“I will be sending a letter today to all vaccination sites, inviting them to participate in walk-in vaccination events. It is our hope every site will participate,” Persichilli said.

In other news, with the first case of the Omicron variant identified in New Jersey last Friday, and with a “handful” of cases possible, pending results, the governor relayed “encouraging” news from a Pfizer report that said its booster shot provides similar levels of antibodies to combat Omicron as the company’s initial two-shot regimen in fighting previous strains of the virus.

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