The state of New Jersey has announced that individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19 complications,including those with obesity, severe obesity and medical conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Obesity is classified as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher but less than 40, and severe obesity with a BMI greater than or equal to 40. You can calculate your BMI here. To find out if you are eligible for the vaccine, check out NJ’s Covid19 Information Hub.

If you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, there are many ways to get started with the vaccination process:

1. Pre-register and make an appointment through the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System. 
2. Make an appointment directly with a location that has the vaccine. Click here for locations. 
3. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they are administering the COVID-19 vaccine and if you can make an appointment.
4. If you work or volunteer at a healthcare facility, check to see if you can make an appointment through your place of work.. 

This pandemic has highlighted the effects obesity has on our health. The CDC recently published a list of factors that put people at a higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19, with obesity, having a body mass index (bmi) of 40 or above, one of them. Obesity is known to alter your immune response and decrease your body’s ability to fight infection.

New Jersey Bariatric Center is not a vaccination facility. If you have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub at 1-855-568-0545. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine including insurance, costs and safety, please visit this website. 

At New Jersey Bariatric Center we are doing what we can to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. We are continuing to stay updated on all information about the coronavirus and vaccinations from the NJ Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and are following all appropriate infection control procedures.

As a reminder, if you are concerned that you or someone you know has symptoms associated with the coronavirus, please contact your medical doctor who can address your concerns or the NJ Department of Health Coronavirus hotline at 1-800-222-1222.  If you do not have a medical doctor, please call us and we will help direct you to an internal medicine professional who can address your concerns.

The New Jersey Bariatric Center Team