Governor Murphy reported that Perth Amboy has one of the lowest vaccination rates in New Jersey. As the State begins to lift Covid restrictions in May and allows large gatherings and a return to full capacity indoor dining, you should get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect your health. Local access to vaccination has increased and everyone 12 and over has become eligible. The vaccine is free and open to all residents regardless of immigration status or health insurance. Community leaders are needed to help encourage people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccine hesitancy and disinformation are real problems that need to be addressed. We can help educate and encourage our community to make the decision to protect themselves and become vaccinated.

Walk in vaccinations are now available in Perth Amboy. You can walk in and get vaccinated at Raritan Bay Medical Center from 8:30am-3:45pm and at Rite Aid on Smith St. No appointment is necessary. The Middlesex County Mega Vaccine site in Edison (97 Sunfield Ave) is also walk in from 8am-noon.  Additionally, Walmart announced they have walk in vaccinations, no appointment necessary. CVS announced they have same day appointments available. You can also register for a vaccine appointment through the state website and view all possible locations throughout the state to be vaccinated. (https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine) You could also find walk in vaccinations through the Middlesex County website and be vaccinated in Middlesex County. You can find information about being vaccinated through the Perth Amboy City website.

Governor Murphy had set a goal of 70% of adults vaccinated by June 30. President Biden also announced that same goal for the country. In Perth Amboy, to locally achieve 70% vaccinated will require an effort to continuously encourage people to be vaccinated and an increased availably of walk in appointments, maybe through extended evening hours or weekend hours to accommodate working people and increased local access to the Middlesex County site at the VO Tech on High St. A public education ad campaign in English and Spanish would also help to create awareness of the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible. Residents have suggested ideas like pop up vaccinations at planned events at the waterfront.