The Union County Board of Commissioners today announced the beginning of its Homebound Vaccination Program in an effort to vaccinate its residents who are unable to leave their homes.
“Our most vulnerable communities must not be left behind and the effort to vaccinate the homebound is critical to the success of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “This is a major step forward as we continue to build toward herd immunity in Union County.”
Commissioner Sergio Granados, who is the Chairman of the County’s Public Safety Committee which oversees the response to the pandemic, said: “I am excited to announce the homebound program. We have been working through our County’s Human Services and Public Safety Department to develop this program and serve residents, beginning at age 18 and older. We won’t stop until we vaccinate all of Union County’s homebound residents who want a vaccination and who are among the most vulnerable to the virus.”
The program will be administered through the County’s Human Services Department. The nurse-led teams will begin vaccinating the homebound Wednesday (tomorrow) in three towns, Clark, Garwood and Cranford, and will move on to other towns after that. The County is partnering with the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, Holy Redeemer Visiting Nurses and Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey to offer the program.
The County has identified and targeted well over 2,000 residents through a number of resources in all 21 municipalities thus far, according to Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson.
Residents who are homebound and wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination may call the County’s Division on Aging and Disability Resources at 1-888-280-8226 between the hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Currently, the County will begin by offering the Moderna vaccination, and then transition into the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccination.
You are considered to be homebound (18 years and older) if any of the following categories apply:
a) The person’s doctor believes that their health or illness could get worse if they leave the home.
b) The person requires the help of another person and/or medical equipment to leave the home, or finds it difficult to leave the home and typically cannot do so.
c) The person is served by a home health care organization.
d) The person is served by social services agencies (e.g. non-medical home care, Meals on Wheels, Community Action Programs, Paratransit services, etc.).
e) The person is physically or intellectually disabled.
Information obtained from Union County site.