Jersey City to administer J&J vaccines to restaurant, grocery store workers

Health officials in Jersey City will use their supply of Johnson & Johnson vaccines to vaccinate restaurant workers, porters, and grocery store workers this week, said Mayor Steven Fulop via an e-mail blast.

Unlike the Moderna vaccine, which the city typically administers, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one-dose vaccine.

“As we re-open, we know these employees are on the front line around many others and often don’t have the flexibility to take two days off from work for the two-dose vaccine options,” said Mayor Fulop.

In addition, Fulop mentioned that all six vaccination sites would be operational as of March 29. This week, the sites at 100 Marin Boulevard and 28 Paterson Street would be dedicated to vaccinating restaurant workers, grocery store workers, porters, hospitality workers, and warehouse workers.

Appointments are required and you must present proof of employment in one of the categories referenced. (A pay stub should suffice). To make an appointment, simply call the Jersey City vaccine site at (201) 373-2316 between 9am and 5pm daily.

Coronavirus Jersey City cases spiked in November and have remained consistently high. The city’s 7-day rolling average is 137 new confirmed cases per day, according to the JC COVID dashboard.

Mayor Fulop’s full e-mail can be read below:

This week, we are using our Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine doses for front-line restaurant workers, grocery store workers, porters, hospitality workers, and warehouse workers. As we re-open, we know these employees are on the front line around many others and often don’t have the flexibility to take two days off from work for the two-dose vaccine options.

To increase access and provide priority for these front-line workers, we also will be opening our sixth Jersey City vaccine point of distribution starting tomorrow. The locations dedicated for these employees will be 100 Marin Boulevard & 28 Paterson Street.

All eligible staff are required to make their own appointment by calling the Appointment Call Center at (201) 373-2316. The call center is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, with 40 operators to help. Please identify yourself as one of these categories and the staff will direct you on how to complete registration.

In addition, more than likely, your employer in one of these categories may have referenced an email from our Health & Human Services Department with more detailed information on how to register. Please do not show up at either site without first scheduling an appointment and once scheduled you must bring your paystub to confirm that you classify as an employee in one of the categories referenced earlier.

We will continue allocating our Moderna vaccine doses as we have been doing for the last several months. We are making progress together as the City, along with our local partners, has administered more than 30,000 vaccine doses for our residents. We are ready to scale up as we are allocated more from the state and federal government.

Nevertheless, please remain vigilant and mindful of best practices when around other people to make sure you and your loved ones remain safe.

Let’s continue to work together. Better days are not far away.