Ocean County's rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine included doses from Johnson & Johnson to some of the most vulnerable patients, and now that is on hold.

The pause will have big impacts on the vaccine distribution in the county, according to the public health coordinator, because Wednesday’s drive-thru clinic for seniors and those with mobility issues may have to be postponed.  

The Ocean County Health Department has already vaccinated more than 90,000 residents in a county with one of the highest numbers of senior citizens in the state. At the mobile vaccination clinic at Ocean County College, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was used, likewise for seniors who are homebound. 

With the pause of the vaccine, the alternative is the Moderna two-dose shot. But county health officials say the clinic scheduled for Wednesday is postponed until further notice.  

“It is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes and what we want to do. The message at this point if those appointments do get canceled, we want to be able to assure them that they will have a spot in line and we will honor that appointment at our first availability to get them in to be vaccinated,” says Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye.

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Health officials expect to have more guidance from the state Health Department throughout the day. They have not said when the appointments will be rescheduled and will notify those who had signed up for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Moderna vaccine will continue to be distributed at other public health sites in the county.

Seniors with mobility issues and homebound residents can still schedule appointments by calling or emailing the Health Department in Ocean County.