By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

Many Pennsauken residents – particularly seniors – have expressed concern about their ability to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as they can’t go online to do so. Pennsauken Township Committee and the town’s municipal staff have arranged to have vaccinations right here in Pennsauken to serve those without access to computers or the internet.

“Making sure that our senior population and those most susceptible to the virus receive their vaccine – regardless of their access to technology – is of major concern to not only myself, but the entire Township Committee,” said Pennsauken Mayor Marco DiBattista. “That’s why as a team, we have been working day and night with our municipal administration to come up with a solution.”

This initiative is specifically for those eligible to receive the vaccine during Phase 1B: those aged 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus. These conditions include:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Individuals who are pregnant and those in an immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant are also eligible but should follow CDC guidance and first discuss vaccination with their medical provider before receiving the vaccine.

Vaccine registration will occur at the Municipal Complex, 5605 N. Crescent Blvd. To sign up for a vaccination, those individuals eligible under Phase 1B can pick up a form on the side of the Township Municipal Building. They are found in one of the wall file holders under the awning. The form can also be downloaded from the Township’s website, twp.pennsauken.nj.us. After the two-page form is completed, it can be mailed back to the Municipal Building, or placed in the drop box immediately next to where the forms are located. Submitting these consent forms as soon as possible is extremely important, as this determines the number of doses received from the state.

After these forms are processed, individuals who registered will be contacted about how to schedule their vaccination. Walk-ins will not be allowed at this time. The timeline will be based on current supplies and vaccine availability.

In addition, the Camden County Board of Commissioners, in a joint public health effort with Cooper University Health Care and Jefferson Health – New Jersey, have begun vaccinating individuals at the Camden County Vaccination Center, located at Camden County College – Blackwood Campus. Residents can find out if they’re currently eligible to receive the vaccine, schedule an appointment, and access the full list of open vaccination sites throughout New Jersey by visiting Camdencounty.com/vaccineregistration.

Questions about COVID-19 vaccinations can be submitted online at the Township’s website. Answers will be provided via a FAQ that will be shared with the Pennsauken community.

COVID-19 Numbers In Pennsauken

To date, Pennsauken Township had 3,577 total confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the start of the outbreak in March 2020. There have also been 62 deaths due to COVID-19-related complications.

“We need everyone’s help in battling this virus,” said DiBattista. “By properly wearing masks, thoroughly washing your hands, and being socially distant, we can keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our community safe.

“We’ve taken a lot of steps to make sure that both Township employees and the residents who conduct business in our municipal building stay safe. We’re continuing to only have people come into the building by appointment only. Residents can find a list of our departments – to ask questions or to schedule a time to come in – both in each issue of All Around Pennsauken and at the Township website. When you do stop by, you’ll need to wear a mask to enter. It’s important to bring your ID with you. There’s also plenty of hand sanitizer throughout the building. We know these extra steps can be inconvenient, but we’re really trying to keep everybody safe.”

Pennsauken Township puts out regular updates on the coronavirus outbreak via its website, twp.pennsauken.nj.us; Pennsauken Television, Channel 19 on Comcast and Channel 21 on Fios; and its social media channels: Facebook.com/PennsaukenTwp and @pennsaukentwp for both Twitter and Instagram.