By Barbara A. Preston | June 30, 2022
The State Health Department moved the Montgomery region from high to medium for COVID activity as of June 27. Montgomery Health Officer Devangi Patel says she still recommends masking when indoors and other precautions are still recommended.
Pediatric vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are now approved and available for children ages six months to five years old. The Montgomery Township Health Department is tentatively planning to host a Pediatric Moderna Vaccination Clinic (for children ages 6-month-old through to 5-year-old) on Friday, July 15 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the new Montgomery Municipal Center.
The Montgomery Department of Health encourages parents to reach out to primary care providers for guidance. “Appointment availability is very limited,” Patel said. “There is a shortage, in terms of the pediatric practices offering the vaccine. So, we are working with our board of health to offer a clinic in mid July.”
Call the Montgomery Health Department at 908.359.8211 for information regarding the July clinic for children
Somerset County Health Department is also offering clinics to residents, including children under five. For more information and to register, visit the county website. .
Patel reported at the June 24 Montgomery Township Committee meeting that Montgomery cases are trending down.
Currently NJ is seeing four main variants circulating: Omicron variant BA 2, Omicron subvariants BA2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5.
Breakthrough infections in people who are vaccinated are expected, but being up-to-date on recommended vaccines is effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The emergence of the Omicron variants further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.
Reported COVID cases have dropped to 54 the week of June 24. This number does not include at-home positive tests.
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“We expect cases to remain low throughout the summer months and encourage people to continue practicing public health precautions when traveling to areas with high community transmission, when potentially exposed to COVID-19, and when visiting healthcare settings,” she said.
“As we move into the summer months, I want to encourage Montgomery residents to get out and have fun,” she said. “Refresh and take care of your mental health, but keep a good number of home test kits with you,” she said.
Tests may be ordered from the USPS website or from health insurance companies. Most folks can get eight or more test kits per month. Test if you think you have been exposed.
“I would like to thank the Princeton Elks for hosting testing for the last four months,” Patel said. “We’ve tested more than ... 5,000 people since January. It will continue to be a need for people throughout the rest of the year.”
Montgomery Township’s PCR COVID-19 testing program is no longer at the Princeton Elks Lodge in Blawenburg.
Testing is now offered at the new Montgomery Municipal Center. Hours are 11 am to 6 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from noon to 7 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Central Jersey Urgent Care and Carbon Health, the companies administering the test, recommend online pre-registration here. All tests are free, whether or not you have health insurance. Dates and times are subject to change frequently. Please check the Montgomery Township Health Department website for the most up-to-date information. ■