Red Bank Family Health Center To Begin Offering COVID-19 Vaccines

RED BANK, NJ - Monmouth County recently announced a partnership with two long standing Red Bank organizations to assist in vaccinating residents against COVID-19.

Parker Family Health Center and Pilgrim Baptist Church will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations starting Thursday, Feb. 4, the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners announced Wednesday.

The Parker Family Health Center, a nonprofit that aids uninsured patients, will distribute 100 vaccines per week, which will be given by appointment only.

Vaccines will continue to be offered at the Monmouth County Agricultural Building in Freehold and at Brookdale Community College. Residents can also register for vaccines at the Red Bank YMCA, Hazlet ShopRite or Hackensack Meridian Health locations, including those in Red Bank and Holmdel. Read more: COVID Vaccine Site List In Monmouth County: What To Know

“The Board will continue to work tirelessly to distribute all vaccines as soon as they are received by the State and continue to advocate for more vaccines to be given to Monmouth County residents,” said Commissioner Director Arnone.

“My fellow Commissioners and I are grateful for the partnership with the Parker Family Health Center and Pilgrim Baptist Church and their ability to assist with distributing vaccines to residents in Red Bank and the surrounding communities. The Board hopes that, through our community partnerships, we will be able to offer vaccines in locations that are convenient for all of our Monmouth County residents, many of whom rely on public transportation or walking to get where they need to go.”

In New Jersey, vaccines are currently available to healthcare personnel, long-term care residents and staff, first responders, individuals ages 65 and older and individuals ages 16-64 with medical conditions, including:

∙ Cancer
∙ Chronic kidney disease
∙ COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
∙ Down Syndrome
∙ Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
∙ Obesity
∙ Severe Obesity
∙ Sickle cell disease
∙ Smoking
∙ Type 2 diabetes mellitus

“When agencies come together for the wellness of the community, pretty great things happen,” said Pastor Terrence K. Porter, Senior Minister of Pilgrim Baptist Church. “The reflection of that in Red Bank is the great new partnership between the Parker Health Center, the Monmouth County Health Department and Pilgrim Baptist Church.”

Vaccines will be distributed at Parker Family Health Center located on Shrewsbury Avenue five days per week and offer late hours on Wednesdays. The hours (subject to change) are as follows:

• Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To schedule an appointment for a vaccine, residents may call the Parker Family Health Center at (732) 212-0777 or Pilgrim Baptist Church at (732) 747-2348.

According to an NJ.com report, nearly half of all 550,000 vaccinations administered in New Jersey have gone to white residents, with Latinx populations receiving 5 percent and Black individuals receiving just 3 percent of total vaccinations. Parker Family Health Center offers services in Spanish if needed.

“We will be working directly with our communities of faith to turn houses of worship and other community gathering places into vaccination centers for local residents – essentially bringing the vaccines to them,” Gov. Phil Murphy said at a news conference this week.

Residents who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can also go to the county website at www.visitmonmouth.com and use the Monmouth County COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist to be placed on the waitlist for an appointment for a vaccine at the County’s vaccine sites in Freehold and Lincroft.

The next populations to become eligible for the vaccine will be the remainder of the essential workers and the general public. The starting date for the next phase is to be determined.