HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH REACHES 100,000^TH

COVID-19 VACCINE MILESTONE

New Jersey’s largest health network administered its 100,000^th vaccine,

marking major milestone in the fight against COVID-19

(February 12, 2021) Edison, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest and most integrated health network in New Jersey, announced today that it has administered its 100,000^th COVID-19 vaccine on February 12, 2021. The network reached this major milestone just two months after it launched its vaccination deployment program on December 15, 2020.

“We are thrilled to mark this major milestone and be a vital part of the effort to protect our communities against this deadly virus,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our frontline team members, we have been able to safely and efficiently distribute the vaccine to 100,000 people. While we are proud to mark this moment, we recognize there is much more work to be done and we must continue our efforts to expand the vaccine to finally defeat this devasting virus.”

Hackensack Meridian Health began administering COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020 to frontline team members, who have heroically cared for more COVID-19 patients than any other health system in New Jersey. On January 22, 2021 the health network, in partnership with the New Jersey State Department of Health, State Police, and National Guard, opened the Bergen County COVID-19 Vaccination Mega Site at the former Meadowlands Racetrack. The network is now vaccinating approximately 1,500 people per day and is on track to reach up to 3,000 shots daily.

“We are so proud to have reached this key milestone in the fight against COVID-19,’’ said Regina Foley, PhD, MBA, RN, senior vice president integration/transformation for Hackensack Meridian Health. “Our teams continue to work around the clock to ensure we are able to successfully administer this vaccine to more and more people across our communities. We remain focused on accelerating our distribution efforts in order to better serve the public.”

As of today, New Jersey has distributed more than 1.2 million vaccines, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

The Bergen County COVID-19 Vaccination Mega Site is located at the former Racetrack/West Gate Entrance- Lot M. The public can register for the vaccine here. Please note that appointments fill up quickly and Hackensack Meridian Health is continuing to expand service over the next several weeks as the state provides vaccines. No walks-ins will be accepted.

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ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.

Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals – Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals – JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.

Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 36,000 team members, and over 7,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The network’s notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker’s Healthcare’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2019” list.

The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine opened in 2018, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its third class of students in 2020 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.