Burlington County is offering the new updated COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to County children 6 months to 11 years-old who may have difficulty obtaining the vaccine from their local pharmacy or doctor’s office.
The Burlington County Health Department is re-opening its weekly clinic beginning Friday, Nov. 3, specifically to administer shots for young children. The clinics will be held from 1 PM to 4 PM each Friday at the Burlington County Health Department offices at 15 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton. (There will not be clinics on either Friday Nov. 10 or on Friday Nov. 24).
Appointments are required and can be made online at https://tinyurl.com/BCHDCOVIDVAX. Patients coming to the clinic should enter through the marked side entrance.
“COVID-19 is still with us and still a health threat. The 2023-24 updated vaccine and booster provides the best available protection against severe disease and the worst possible outcomes, so residents who haven’t yet received the updated shot should plan to get one soon,” said Dr. Herb Conaway, director of the Burlington County Health Department. “While most residents should be able to get a vaccine or booster shot from their physician, pediatrician, pharmacy or Federally Qualified Health Center, finding a shot for young children can be challenging, so our Health Department is stepping in to help fill that gap and address that need.”
Both Moderna and Pfizer-Biontech shots will be offered at the County clinics. Insurance information will be collected but there will not be any out-of-pocket costs to residents.
The Burlington County clinics are specifically targeting children 6 months to 11 years-old because the pediatric versions of the COVID-19 vaccines for these ages have been challenging to obtain. Some doctors are not stocking or administering vaccine because of the upfront costs and pharmacies are restricted from administering shots to young children.
The County also has a small supply of COVID-19 shots for residents 12 and up who are either uninsured or severely underinsured. Those residents should contact the Health Department at 609-265-5548 to inquire about their vaccination options.
More than 994,000 doses of COVID vaccine have now been administered to Burlington County residents, including about 84,000 bivalent doses.
More than 7,200 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Burlington County this year, including 441 this month, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
“The holidays and colder months are approaching when more people gather or interact indoors and COVID spreads much easier,” Conaway said. “The 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective protection against illness, so now is the time to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about getting the updated shot and the protection it offers.”