Rosario Dawson Gets Vaccine In Newark: ‘The Best Weapon We Have’ – Patch.com

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A COVID-19 vaccination site in Essex County got its second visit from a movie star when actor and activist Rosario Dawson dropped by to get her shot on Saturday.

“You know, the science tells us that these vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID infection and serious illness,” Dawson said after her visit.

“They are the best weapon we have – along with mask-wearing, social distancing, hand-washing, and other measures recommended by the CDC and public health officials – to combat the deadly pandemic that has been ravaging our country and our communities for the past year,” the actor continued. “And if enough people get the vaccine, they have the potential to help end this once and for all.”

She also praised the medical professionals and volunteers who are staffing the county’s vaccination centers.

“They are taking care of people here,” Dawson wrote. “So, if you’re eligible, I encourage you to sign up for an appointment and come down here.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said that local officials were “very happy” to welcome Dawson to the clinic.

“We want to make sure that every segment of our population has access to a COVID vaccination and feels safe about the process,” DiVincenzo said. “A star of film and television, Ms. Dawson is also an activist who supports global initiatives about conservation and protecting women and children.”

“By partnering with Ms. Dawson, we are hoping to demonstrate to residents in our urban areas how safe getting the vaccination is,” he added.

Dawson’s visit to Essex County College came less than a month after her Hollywood peer, Queen Latifah, got a vaccine at the same site.

Latifah, a Newark native who grew up in East Orange, brought a few family and crew members along with her to get their shots as well.

The actor, who has been filming for her new series, “The Equalizer,” in Newark and North Jersey, said her role on the set was a big reason why she got vaccinated.

“Every time I go to work, I feel like I am responsible for hundreds of people’s lives. If I don’t go to work, they don’t go to work,” she added.

Newark has been one of the hardest-hit cities in New Jersey when it comes to the coronavirus and its human toll. As of Monday, the city has seen 34,379 cumulative cases of COVID-19, about 45 percent of the entire total in Essex County. Newark has also seen 923 deaths linked to the disease.

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