​Burlington Begins Vaccinating EMS Workers Against Coronavirus

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County's health department on Monday kicked off its effort to protect EMS workers from the coronavirus with a vaccine from drugmaker Moderna.

The first doses of the vaccine, which arrived in the county on Monday, were given to EMS workers from Evesham. In the coming weeks, other health care workers and school nurses will be vaccinated.

Burlington health department director Dr. Herb Conaway said only a few hundred doses of the vaccine will be given out initially, but he hopes more people can be inoculated as the supply of the vaccine grows.

“We will vaccinate a few hundred people this week to start, but we expect to expand the number of vaccinations as more supply is made available from the federal and state governments,” Conaway said in a statement. “It’s a big undertaking, but we know it’s a tremendous weapon in our fight against the virus.”

Virtua Health System has received its own shipment of the vaccine and has begun vaccinating its own employees, according to the release. However, the county's department of health is responsible for vaccinating other health care workers not affiliated with Virtua.

Vaccinations will be given out at the county's health department building in Westampton until the Moorestown Mall mega-vaccination site opens, the county said. Once open, the mega-site is expected to vaccinate as many as 2,400 people each day.

The county said it also plans to offer mobile vaccination clinics to reach people unable to travel to the mall.

“While the rollout of the vaccine is exciting, we must remain patient and continue to be vigilant and do our part to prevent the virus’ spread,” Conaway said, noting the vaccine will not be available to the general public for several months.