First Moderna Vaccine In NJ Distributed By Jefferson Health

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — The first dose of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine in South Jersey was administered by Jefferson Health Tuesday morning, according to the health system.

Renee Stephens, a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Jefferson Health in Washington Township was the first person to receive the Moderna coronavirus vaccine in New Jersey, Jefferson Health New Jersey President Brian Sweeney said.

"For the last five or six weeks, we knew this day was coming," Sweeney said. "We received the shipment about two weeks ago, and began preparing."

Jefferson received 600 doses in the first shipment, and Sweeney said a shipment is expected each week, with a dramatic increase in the number of doses expected in January. The initial doses were administered on Tuesday, beginning with Stephens.

“I’m feeling incredibly grateful that the vaccine is here,” Stephens told NBC 10 after getting the vaccine.

After giving training on how to administer the vaccine, signing documentation and consent forms and other procedural matters, the first 30 doses were administered. There were no severe side effects, according to Sweeney. On Wednesday, Jefferson is set to begin vaccinating 150 employees a day.

Jefferson received 600 doses in the first shipment, and Sweeney Jefferson expects a shipment each week, with a dramatic increase in the number of doses expected in January.

"For the last five or six weeks, we knew this day was coming," Sweeney said. "We received the shipment about two weeks ago, and began preparing."

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Last week, Cooper Health became one of the first six hospitals in the state to administer the coronavirus vaccine that had been developed by Pfizer. Since then, Virtua and Deborah Heart and Lung Center were also authorized to distribute the vaccine. Read more here: No Severe Reactions To COVID Vaccine In South Jersey: Officials

Additionally, the Moorestown Mall has been designated as one of six vaccine distribution megasites around the state. Read more here: Moorestown Mall To Serve As COVID Vaccine 'Megasite,' Murphy Says

In a clinical study, the Moderna vaccine was found to be about 94 percent effective in 30,000 volunteers. The Pfizer vaccine had a similar rate. Both vaccines have a small chance of causing severe allergic reactions. Of the thousands of vaccinations already performed across the country, just five allergic reactions have been reported in the U.S.

The New Jersey Department of Health determines which health systems get which vaccine, and Sweeney said he didn't know why Jefferson received Moderna. Health officials have stressed there is no difference between the vaccines.

The two vaccines are similar, although the Pfizer vaccine is for ages 18-and-up, while the Moderna vaccine will be for ages 16-and-up.

Data is still being analyzed about developing vaccines for middle-school aged children and younger, according to officials. The timeline for who will receive the vaccine and when remains the same, with the vaccine most likely becoming available to the general public in the spring.

See related: Here's Who's Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine First In New Jersey