January 11, 2021
Please post in a central location for those who do not have access to email
Dear Colleagues,
The challenges of the past year have been extremely difficult, particularly for our frontline employees. But you have risen to those challenges, providing an important lifeline for many customers in the region who need our service more than ever during the pandemic. Thank you all for your commitment and dedication to keep New Jersey moving during the pandemic.
I’m pleased to share that help is on the way with the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is managing the state’s vaccine distribution process, and prioritizing who receives it and when based on specific criteria. NJ TRANSIT employees have been prioritized, and those of you working on the front lines with frequent customer contact are among those who will be eligible early in the distribution process.
Public health officials highly recommend that we receive the vaccine, which is currently available from two manufacturers (both have proven to be 95 percent effective), while others are still in development. The current vaccines are given in two doses over a period of less than a month, which is required for them to be fully effective. When you receive the first dose at your scheduled appointment, you will be given a return date to receive the second dose.
NJ TRANSIT has requested, but not yet received, an allotment of the vaccine for distribution to employees. We have made necessary preparations for its arrival and are working to identify NJ TRANSIT facilities where employees can receive their vaccinations when supplies become available. In the meantime, we recommend that you pre-register at the NJDOH website for a future vaccination (see link below), which also provides a growing list of state-approved vaccination sites that is frequently updated.
I know we all want to get back to a sense of normalcy as soon as possible – personally, I can’t wait until we can declare that this virus is no longer a threat. One of the most important ways we can accomplish that is to get vaccinated. I plan to get the vaccine when it is available for me, and I encourage you to take that step to protect your health and the health of those around you.
To learn more about the state’s vaccination plan and to pre-register, please visit the Department of Health vaccine information page: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine
You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention “Questions & Answers” page to learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.
Again, thank you for your ongoing commitment and support to our customers. Stay safe and stay healthy.
Warmly,
Kevin
