March 25, 2021

The Honorable Peter T. Gaynor Administrator Federal Emergency Management Agency 500 C Street, SW, Room 8 SW Washington, DC 20472

Dear Administrator Gaynor:

We respectfully ask that you include Essex County, , as a candidate for a Type 1 Federal Pilot Community Vaccination Center.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on New Jersey and Essex County is the hardest- hit county in the state. The nearly 2,500 Essex County deaths represent 12 percent of the statewide mortality total, and the 74,000 cases are 9 percent of the state’s total. Statewide, there have been over 878,000 positive cases and over 24,000 deaths since this pandemic began.

We are currently in a race against new variants of the virus. Vaccine administration has increased this year, with over 200,000 doses administered in Essex County and 2.6 million people statewide having received at least one dose. Despite this success, COVID-19 cases have been on a slight increase since February. We need additional federal support to get as many shots into arms as quickly as possible.

A Federal Pilot Community Vaccination Center would provide up to 6,000 vaccinations per day, helping to turn the corner and decrease the overall COVID-19 positivity rate in Essex County. These sites are to be selected based on data that includes the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. Under these guidelines, Essex County is rated with a “high” level of social vulnerability, indicating an increased risk to people’s lives and health during the ongoing public health emergency.

We respectfully and strongly urge you to include Essex County, New Jersey as a site for a Type 1 Federal Pilot Community Vaccination Center, and we are ready to assist in any way we can.

Sincerely,

Donald M. Payne, Jr. Member of Congress Member of Congress

Albio Sires Member of Congress Member of Congress