There's a high demand for the vaccine, and some county health departments
have backlogs over a month. The private health care industry is also offering
vaccine for people who want it.
“We didn't get into the game
simply to be a vehicle to take care of our own,” says Chief Physician Executive
Dr. Dan Varga, with Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are a community asset, and we
are in this for the long haul.
Dr. Varga welcomes police
officers, firefighters, and other first responders not affiliated with the
health system to make an appointment.
“We know what we are doing with this, we got it down
to a nice slick process and take advantage connecting to the website,” says Dr.
Varga. “if there's an available appointment, take advantage of it, we will get
a needle in an arm.
The call comes just a day
after Gov. Murphy opened the vaccinations to part of those in Group 1B – police
and firefighters.
“Bless them all,” says Gov. Murphy. “These are folks who are just as
much in harm's way on the front lines as many of our health care workers and
have often been called for medical support and have often the ones who have
dealt with the knuckleheads."
Fire, police and EMS can
schedule appointments to get vaccinated at any of Hackensack
Meridian Health’s 10 sites by clicking
here.