After a challenging year dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic, people are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Multiple vaccines have been developed and millions of Americans have been vaccinated.

As of April 19, vaccine eligibility in New Jersey has expanded to include all people over the age of 16. Vaccinations are free and are important to preventing the spread of COVID. The COVID vaccine can protect individuals from contracting COVID-19 and suffering serious illnesses. If enough people are vaccinated, it can also prevent the spread of COVID-19 through communities. This is called herd immunity, and it helps protect people who are unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons. 

Individuals 16 years or older are eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. For the Moderna vaccine, only individuals 18 years or older can receive it.  

Anybody who is pregnant or immunocompromised should talk to their medical provider about receiving the COVID vaccine. This vaccine may cause side effects. Possible side effects include headaches, fatigue, or redness at the site of injection, but most side effects are not serious. Vaccination centers also have vaccinated people wait for 15-30 minutes after injection in case they experience a reaction. 

Register for the COVID vaccine here.