Home Berlin News Eastern gets students, families to BurlCo vaccination site

Eastern gets students, families to BurlCo vaccination site

If any organization is interested in scheduling group vaccinations, please send an introductory email to covidmegasite@virtua.org.

EMILY LIU/The Sun: On Wednesday, April 28, 100 students and 50 household members took a field trip to the Burlington County COVID-19 Vaccine Mega-Site in the Moorestown Mall. Though 80 percent of the students provided their own transportation, there were still some who opted to take the bus.

About 150 Eastern Camden County Regional High School students and family members lined up early on April 28 for a trip to the Burlington County vaccine mega site in the Moorestown Mall.

EMILY LIU/The Sun: The Burlington County COVID-19 Vaccine Mega-Site is located in the old Lord and Taylor store in the Moorestown Mall. With all of the merchandise removed, the store is spacious enough to accommodate many people in an efficient manner.
EMILY LIU/The Sun: The Burlington County Vaccine Mega-Site at the Moorestown Mall has different sections for registration, vaccination, and waiting throughout the old Lord and Taylor’s. This is the waiting area where people sit after they’ve been vaccinated.

The ride to the old Lord and Taylor store, now the vaccine site, was coordinated by Superintendent Robert Cloutier, Eastern’s Dr. Susan Roth and Virtua Vice President of Integration Michael Capriotti. It was scheduled for the 28th because Wednesday is an asynchronous day for all students.

“We want our school to be a safe haven in every sense, and that means helping all eligible people receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Cloutier. “The site has been so accommodating.”

EMILY LIU/The Sun: The Burlington County Vaccine Mega-Site welcomed Eastern students and household members, like Belinda DeJesus (left, mother) and Bella Spina (right, daughter/student). The trip organized one week before was intentionally scheduled during an asynchronous day. People who got vaccinated today will return for their second dose on May 19.

About 100 students signed up for the trip, along with 50 family members. Because everyone got the Pfizer vaccine, there will be a second trip from Eastern on May 19 for second doses. Although students will not be fully vaccinated in time for the prom on May 14, they will be for graduation.

“Spring is an exciting time for our school community; we have concerts, athletic events, prom and graduation,” said Roth, director of special services for the district. “We want to enjoy these moments and make them as safe as possible, which is why we encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”

Virtua Health, a partner for the Moorestown vaccination site, welcomes other schools, houses of worship and community groups to schedule group vaccinations. To do so, send an introductory email to covidmegasite@virtua.org.

The old Lord and Taylor store in the Moorestown Mall has been converted into a spacious vaccine site. Even the fitting rooms have been converted into sensory rooms to help administer vaccines in a quiet, calm environment.

EMILY LIU/The Sun: The fitting rooms have also been converted into sensory rooms to provide people who are sensitive to loud surroundings with a peaceful setting to be vaccinated in. For those interested, after scheduling an appointment, call 856-206-4433 to be vaccinated in a sensory room.

Those who wish to be vaccinated in a sensory room should contact Phyllis Worrell at 856-206-4433 after scheduling an appointment at https://www.virtua.org/services/covid19-vaccine-info.

“If any subset of our community wants support organizing COVID-19 vaccines for large groups, Virtua wants to help,” said Dr. Reg Blaber, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Virtua Health. “We have appointment availability at the mega-site, and will be glad to welcome you.”

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