Voorhees, NJ, May 31, 2022 -- Jefferson Health – New Jersey has been awarded a $574,503 grant from the New Jersey Department of Health to establish an outreach program to provide education, as well as COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, to a wide array of community members in southern New Jersey.

The grant awarded to Jefferson Health – New Jersey will be used to fund and train a team of social workers and community health workers to connect with various segments of the population throughout Camden and Gloucester counties, and provide education and needed vaccinations.

Although New Jersey has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the nation, there are still communities and subpopulations where rates remain under 70%. In addition, only 53.2% of residents of Gloucester County and 50.4% of residents of Camden County have received a booster shot. The Grant will fund education and vaccinations for more than a dozen communities in Camden and Gloucester counties. Specific areas of attention will include:

• Children ages five and up
• Women who are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• People with intellectual or developmental disabilities
• Homebound community members

“Jefferson Health - New Jersey is proud to lead outreach efforts to engage vulnerable, under-vaccinated communities in Camden and Gloucester counties,” said Amanda Kimmel, VP of Ambulatory Operations for the Jefferson Medical Group in New Jersey. “By ensuring equitable access to vaccines, we can help to lessen the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic for underserved populations, and prevent widening disparities while achieving broader population immunity.”

Jefferson anticipates administering some 1,340 vaccines at hospital-based sites, outpatient locations, and “pop up” clinics. As the program expands, it is expected that flu shots will also be provided.

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About Jefferson Health: Jefferson Health, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, is reimagining health care in the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson’s dedicated team of doctors, nurses, health professionals and staff provides a range of primary to highly specialized care through 18 hospitals (10 are Magnet®-designated by the ANCC for nursing excellence), more than 50 outpatient and urgent care locations, the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Moss Rehabilitation Hospitals and Magee Rehabilitation and the JeffConnect® telemedicine program. For 2021-2022, Jefferson is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals in seven specialities by U.S. News & World Report. Jefferson Health’s mission is to improve the lives of patients in the communities it is privileged to serve through safe, effective, equitable, compassionate care.