Cranbury School, Middlesex County, N.J. — It was a little after 12:30 in the afternoon of March 30. The pop-up clinic inside was 25 minutes away from opening, but people already were lining up in the early spring sunshine for the hottest ticket in town: a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
They included teachers, maintenance and administrative staff, and other employees of the Cranbury School and neighboring districts such as Princeton. All told, 264 people received their first dose of the vaccine in the space of a few hours. The clinic at Cranbury was only a beginning. In the following two weeks alone, Princeton Health staff visited another 12 public and private schools in Mercer and Middlesex counties, vaccinating more than 2,000 people.
Debbie Millar, RN, director of community wellness and engagement, said Princeton Health is working to include Somerset County school districts and begin vaccinating staff members at nearby colleges, including The College of New Jersey and Rider University.
The education/higher education effort is part of Princeton Health’s broader vaccine plan, said Margaret DeFalco, assistant vice president, administrative services. School staffers are eligible to schedule vaccinations for the on-site clinic at Princeton Medical Center. The school-based clinics make the process more convenient while also allowing Princeton Health to provide more doses than would be possible on-site alone. As of April 15, Princeton Health has administered 25,000-plus vaccinations.
“We are committed to fulfilling the lifelong healthcare needs of people in our community, and COVID-19 is the greatest public health challenge in recent memory,” DeFalco said. “Vaccinating as many people as possible is a crucial step. We are working with partners throughout the community to do this in a safe, effective, and equitable manner.”
The off-site clinics are the result of a broad team effort, said Millar.
She and Craig Harley, associate director of community wellness and engagement, worked with school officials across Central Jersey setting up the visits, and Dana Hvisdock, RN, took the lead in staffing the clinics with nurses to administer the vaccines.
Community wellness and engagement staff provided support for the clinics, and Princeton Health’s transportation division ensured the vaccine doses were safely delivered. Finally, school nurses from the host school and neighboring districts were enlisted to monitor individuals for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine.
“Especially after the past year, parents of school-aged kids can tell you the importance of teachers and the other staff members in our schools,” Millar said. “Vaccinating school employees is a critical safeguard that will enable them to continue their vital work educating our children.”