As NJ Cases Rise, Free COVID Vaccine Clinic For Kids, Adults At West Caldwell Library

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — While the COVID vaccine is available at the Essex County vaccine centers, local pharmacies, and some doctor's offices, West Caldwell is offering another convenient location on an upcoming Saturday morning.

On Aug. 13, the West Caldwell library will host a vaccine clinic for residents 5 and over. It will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Doctors say the vaccine helps prevent severe illness and death in variants of the virus.

The state said last week that statewide, COVID hospitalizations are up to the highest numbers since February, and residents of all counties except Mercer, Salem, and Cumberland should mask up in crowds.

The guidance comes with a gradual increase in New Jersey's total COVID-19 hospitalizations, which surpassed 1,100 patients for the first time last week since mid-February, according to state officials.

Right now, the death rate from COVID is highest in New Mexico, Florida, Oregon, and these states.

In New Jersey, the weekly death toll last week was 59, with more than 80 percent of state residents vaccinated and 53.8 percent having gotten a booster.

If you have tested positive for COVID in the last five days, you can ask for these treatments, the state says.

In the Caldwells, recent case numbers have been low, according to the county. On Tuesday, Aug. 2, four new cases were confirmed in West Caldwell since the day before, for a total of 3,129 cases and 63 deaths since the pandemic began. Caldwell also had four new confirmed cases, for a lifetime total of 1,885 cases and 17 deaths. North Caldwell had eight new cases, for a total of 1,651 since the pandemic began, and 10 deaths. With more people taking home tests, not all cases are reported.

Monkeypox Vaccine Update

As of Tuesday, there were 160 cases of monkeypox confirmed in New Jersey.

Unlike COVID, which spread quickly and killed 460 residents in one day April 2020, health experts said that monkeypox is rarely fatal.

However, the virus can cause flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that often begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Health officials are hoping to keep symptoms mild and contain the virus.

The state announced last week that it's expanding vaccine eligibility to include people who were exposed and certain other categories who are more likely to transmit the virus. Find out more about the vaccine and eligibility in New Jersey here.

North Jersey vaccine centers include:

• Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud! (Jersey City): 201-706-3480

• North Jersey Community Research Initiative (Newark): 973-483-3444, ext. 200

Get the current case count and see information in English and Spanish about the virus in New Jersey by clicking here.

Find out about the vaccine and eligibility in New Jersey here.

See which states have the most cases with this CDC graphic.