23 Sep ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO AND RWJBARNABAS HEALTH UNVEIL MOBILE HEALTH UNIT FOR PEDIATRIC VACCINES AND SCREENINGS Second Mobile Health Unit Complements Original Van Introduced during Pandemic
Published on September 23, 2025
West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. joined with RWJBarnabas Health on Tuesday, September 23rd to unveil a new mobile health unit. This vehicle will be used primarily in outreach initiatives to provide children with physicals for schools, allowing children with barriers to health care access to obtain the needed physicals to attend school. It is the second mobile health unit that is part of the collaboration between Essex County and RWJBarnabas Health to promote healthy lifestyles and wellness in the greater Essex community.
“We could not have a better partner than RWJBarnabas Health. There are some things that government cannot do by itself. Combining the resources of our County and the largest health care system in New Jersey has enabled us to reach out into the community and better address our residents’ health care needs. Being able to bring vaccines, screenings and information into our neighborhoods is helping to break down barriers to health care and improve the health of our community,” DiVincenzo said.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, our mission to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey means that every resident should have the opportunity to achieve better health,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “For children in particular, early access to care is vital – it creates the foundation for lifelong wellness. We are proud to partner with Essex County to expand access to health care and to support this community, which has long been a cornerstone of our health system,” he added.
“We are so thankful that we have RWJBarnabas Health as a partner who shares our vision of collaboration and community engagement. We are going into backyards to say we recognize the value of healthcare,” Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“All of our residents deserve to receive and have access to vaccines and preventative health care. Having this mobile health van specifically for pediatrics helps us break down barriers and make services available to everyone,” Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin said.
“Today is another example of the leadership of our County Executive and the progressive initiatives the County has taken to help save the lives and promote the health of our community in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health,” Commissioner Brendan Gill said. “This is an important announcement promoting the health of our community. Healthy families mean healthy communities,” Commissioner A’Dorian Thomas-Murray said. “The Board of Commissioners are proud to stand in partnership with the County Executive on initiatives like this that benefit the public,” Commissioner Len Luciano said.
“I want to thank the County Executive for giving us the resources and RWJBarnabas Health for being our invaluable partner. Working hand in hand we are able to implement this and a variety of other public health initiatives,” Essex County Public Health Officer and Public Health Management Director Maya Harlow said. “Children have to attend school to learn, and not being able to get the required physical should not be an impediment. Like our other mobile health initiatives, we will make these valuable services accessible by bringing them into the community,” she added.
“We understand how critical it is to meet children and families where they are,” said Margie Heller, Senior Vice President, Community Health and Global Strategic Partnerships, RWJBarnabas Health. “Guided by community voices and in partnership with Essex County, this mobile health clinic allows us to bring care directly to those who face barriers to access – ensuring more children receive the support they need to grow up healthy,” she added.
“This mobile health unit is another example of how we are bringing healthcare into the community, which is the future of how health care will be delivered. Working with RWJBarnabas Health, this initiative will help keep our residents out of the emergency room,” said Frank DelGaudio, Director of the Essex County Department of Health and Rehabilitiation.
The new van has a small waiting room and two exam rooms. Because its primary use will be in conjunction with the Vaccine for Children Program, the exterior and interior are both designed with cartoon zoo characters to make the environment less intimidating to young children. Physicals that children receive will include vision, hearing and a routine medical exam.
The original mobile health vehicle was introduced during the COVID pandemic in 2021. Two years later, it was rebranded as a mobile health unit and has been dispatched to 312 community clinics. Through the end of August, 2,534 vaccines for children and adults have been administered, 5,742 screenings have been provided and 3,428 adults and children have received treatment through the mobile health clinic program.
The Mobile Health Clinic outreach program is a collaborative initiative by Essex County and RWJBarnabas Health.
Essex County and RWJBarnabas Health have a long history of partnering to enhance the quality of life for residents and promote healthy lifestyles. Several initiatives include RWJBarnabas Health hosting its Running with the Devils at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex and its Annual Miracle Walk to benefit the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Essex County Verona Park, providing doctors and nurses to staff the Essex County COVID vaccination site in the Livingston Mall and partnering on an emergency food distribution events at Essex County Codey Arena and West Orange’s Ginny Duenkel Pool in West Orange and Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark.
