The vaccination rate in Newark and Essex County could use some pumping up. As of a few weeks ago, only about 22% of people 18 and older had been vaccinated in the county.
All adults became eligible on April 19, but Dr. Pamela Clarke, head of Newark Community Health Centers, said there is a lot of reluctance out there.
“We still have to push,” she said. “Don’t feel deterred by the fact that people are still in wait mode. We’ve got to keep presenting to people the facts.”
And there is no such thing as too much, she said.
“Education, flyers, documents, anything, and we just have to keep doing that until bombarding,” said Clarke. “I know it sounds simple and naïve but that’s the only thing we have because remember, people have free will.”
She said the information campaign has to stress that the vaccine keeps people safe from serious cases of Covid that could land them in the hospital -- or worse.
Putting all this information out there by whatever means necessary takes money, Clarke said. “Maybe there could be more funding to put into more statewide and local education,” she said. “Put it on the local cable stations.”
Clarke said the health centers give people a choice of vaccine between Moderna and Johnson and Johnson, once again cleared for use.