ICYMI: Governor Murphy and N.J. Department of Health Commissioner Persichilli Announce Additional Monkeypox Vaccination Sites in Camden, Bergen Counties

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli today announced two additional vaccination sites for monkeypox in Camden and Bergen counties. These sites have been added for residents without a confirmed exposure who believe they may have been exposed or are at high risk for having been exposed to the virus, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) announced today.

“Our administration continues to take monkeypox seriously and is doing everything we can to protect New Jersey residents from this virus,” said Governor Murphy. “Opening these two additional locations will help improve access to the vaccine for eligible individuals who are at greatest risk of exposure at this time. We will continue to advocate for an equitable allocation of vaccine doses from the federal government so that we can safeguard the health of our community members during this outbreak.”

“Vaccine doses from the federal government have been limited, and we continue to press for more,” said Commissioner Persichilli. “We are working closely with our healthcare and community partners to help inform those at highest risk of the virus of symptoms and vaccine options to protect their health and others.”

Cooper University Hospital and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center will begin vaccinations by appointment only on Friday, July 29, for expanded Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

For residents with known exposure to a person with monkeypox, the two-dose regimen for PEP continues to be available through their local health department. Anyone with a known exposure within the past 14 days should contact their health care provider or local health department regarding testing and vaccine eligibility. Local health departments will continue to conduct contact tracing and offer the JYNNEOS vaccine to anyone identified as a close contact.

Governor Murphy and Commissioner Persichilli have urged the federal government to reconsider its vaccination allocation strategy in a letter Wednesday to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, saying they don't believe New Jersey has received an equitable percentage of available vaccine through the current strategy.

There are currently 109 probable and confirmed cases of the virus in New Jersey.

The two additional vaccination sites are located at:

Camden County:

-Cooper Vaccine & Testing Clinic, Cooper University Hospital, 300 Broadway, Camden. (At the intersection of Broadway and MLK Boulevard. Entrance off of MLK Boulevard. Follow the signs; do not drive into the parking garage.)

-Appointment only: call 856-968-7100, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or go online at any time through MyCooper at https://my.cooperhealth.org/mychart/authentication/login [my.cooperhealth.org] [t.e2ma.net]

-Patients will be able to schedule a first dose or second dose (with proof of first dose administered at another location)

Bergen County:

-Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, Annex 2 (white tent structure), 230 East Ridgewood Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652   

-Appointment only via www.newbridgehealth.org [newbridgehealth.org] [t.e2ma.net]

The two sites join three other community partner sites announced last week, which are also offering appointments through the expanded PEP program for residents without a confirmed exposure who believe they may have been exposed or are at high risk for having been exposed to monkeypox in the past 14 days:

-Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud!, Jersey City: 201-706-3480

-The Prevention Resource Network, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, Asbury Park: 732-502-5100

-North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), Newark: 973-483-3444, ext. 200 

In accordance with CDC guidelines, residents are eligible to receive a vaccine at one of these locations if they meet one of the following criterion:

-Individuals that attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred

-Or individuals that identify as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men (MSM), and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary and who have a history of multiple or anonymous sex partners within the past 14 days

Persons that have a condition that may increase their risk for severe disease if infected with monkeypox virus, such as a condition that weakens the immune system, or a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema, should be a high priority for vaccination if they have exposure risk as listed above.