NorthJersey.com
Every day, Dr. Thomas Ortiz and his colleagues see about 100 mostly working-class Latino patients at Forest Hill Family Health Associates in Newark.
And every day, Ortiz sees 100 missed opportunities to inoculate an underserved community that is getting only about 5% of New Jersey's COVID-19 vaccine doses.
"Giving us access to the vaccine means it gets to the people who need it the most," Ortiz said. "We work where our patients live. They have easy access to us. They know us. They trust us."
Ortiz is among many physicians frustrated that Gov. Phil Murphy's initial vaccine rollout has not included more family providers to inoculate the elderly and other vulnerable groups vying with millions of other New Jerseyans to get the most coveted product in the world.