Montclair Educators to Receive Vaccines from Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center – TAPinto.net

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Montclair teachers are scheduled to be vaccinated, according to a new partnership established between Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center and the Township of Montclair.

During a press conference held on Friday, officials announced that 80 Montclair educators will be vaccinated each week starting Monday. 

“Starting next week again, through the great partnership and the work with the Mountainside team, there’s a plan in place to vaccinate 80 educators per week, starting next week, to get our educators vaccinated and back to in-person instruction as soon as possible,” Mayor Sean Spiller announced. 

“I’m excited today that we’re able to announce our partnership with Mountainside Hospital and the municipality, and also all of our local officials and leaders,” said Superintendent Jonathan Ponds.

“When we come together, we can solve any problems. When we come together, we can tackle the pandemic.”

In attendance were Mayor Spiller, Superintendent Jonathan Ponds; MEA President Petal Robertson, Board of Education President Latifah Jannah, Brendan Gill, Essex County Commissioner, and Tim O’Brien, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center.

“We at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to community members in December of 2020,” said O’Brien.

“Mountainside is extremely proud that we have administered thousands of vaccine doses to high risk community members, other healthcare providers and frontline workers. We are also incredibly honored that we are able to begin vaccinating teachers and other staff members across districts, including Montclair Public Schools.”

“Last year, this time, teachers all over were frantically packing up classrooms for what we thought was going to be a two-week remote period,” said Robertson.

“So as we approached this anniversary, I’m so happy to know that working in partnership with the Superintendent and with Mountainside, we’re able to ensure another level of safety, not just for our educators, but for our children and our community. And for that, we are so immensely grateful,” she added.

Video of the Press Conference Below: