According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 72% of all New Jerseyans 12 or over have received their first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of this morning, 9,158,939 total COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in New Jersey and 4,539,821 New Jerseyans are now fully vaccinated. 

As the number of vaccinated individuals increases, the state is in the process of transitioning to a community-based vaccination model and closing NJ’s vaccination mega sites. The Morris County mega site at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall will be administering its last first doses on June 23rd, and the final day for second doses will be on July 16th. Although all six state mega sites will be closing over the next few months, COVID-19 vaccines will still be available throughout the state. There are currently 1,800 COVID-19 vaccination sites throughout the state of NJ.

The NJ Department of Health has been studying cases of when fully vaccinated individuals tested positive for COVID-19. These cases are known as breakthrough cases. The NJDOH Commissioner reported on Wednesday that between December 15th, 2020, and April 23, 2021, 1,319 breakthrough cases were identified in NJ, which represents .06% of the 2.2 million individuals who were fully vaccinated at that time. Of those 1,319 individuals, 505 had symptoms, 377 had no symptoms, and an additional 437 did not have this information available in their charts. 92 of these individuals were hospitalized - 30 for reasons due to COVID-19. There were 14 deaths, half of which were deemed to be related to COVID-19 and half not. While vaccine breakthrough cases were seen in all vaccine-eligible age groups, hospitalizations and deaths were only seen in those over the age of 50, and those over the age of 80 accounted for almost half of all hospitalizations and half of deaths related to COVID-19. 

Although the vaccines aren’t perfect, the state believes that this analysis provides reassuring results that the COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective.  Additionally, the CDC released a report this past week that suggests that efforts by state and local jurisdictions to rapidly increase vaccine coverage could further reduce COVID-19 cases and severe outcomes. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 

Sarah Neibart 

Mayor, Mendham Township