NEWARK (1010 WINS) -- The first healthcare workers outside of hospitals began receiving COVID vaccines in hard-hit Essex County on Saturday.
They received the Moderna vaccine at Essex Community College, one of five locations where it's available. Hundreds more will be vaccinated at the sites soon.
County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said when the vaccine became available, officials knew they had to get started quickly, with over 45,000 cases in the county and 2,000 deaths—the most in New Jersey.
"In Essex County, our need is so great, because of the number of positive cases, the number of deaths. So we had to make sure we put together something strong here that could serve our community, all 22 towns, and that's what we've done," DiVincenzo said.
Among the first three people vaccinated—the medical director of the county corrections facility, a doctor at the county psychiatric hospital and Bonnie Rogers, a school nurse in Caldwell.
"God forbid I didn't and I was offered the opportunity to take the vaccine, I would never forgive myself. And if I brought it home to my family, I would never forgive myself," Rogers said.
She said she also wants to set an example so others will feel confident taking the vaccine.
Dr. Naipaul Rambaran, the director of medicine at Essex County Hospital, also got the vaccine. He said it didn't hurt at all.
"I'm fine. Actually, I'm at work today. I returned back to the hospital," Rambaran said.
