SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey has reached its goal of fully vaccinating 4.7 million people against the coronavirus by June 30, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday.
“We’ve officially crossed 4.7 million individuals in the Department of Health’s count — and by the way, we are not close to stopping,” Murphy said at University Hospital in Newark.
While he celebrated the milestone, he assured it is not a “mission accomplished.”
“Remember Hank Aaron when he broke Babe Ruth’s record? He didn’t stop. When he got to 715, he hit another 40 homers. And that’s what this is about,” Murphy said.
State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said the state plans to push deeper into communities where vaccinations are lagging.
“The Department of Health next week will be sending vaccine ambassadors to high-risk counties to work with elected officials, community leaders, school districts, faith leaders,” she said. “Because we will not rest until no doors are open to this unwelcome guest: COVID-19.”
Murphy acknowledged it will take an extra effort to convince Black residents who may not trust the vaccine.
“We’re battling a sordid history in America of vaccines, particularly with communities of color,” he said.
The governor’s original vaccination goal of 4.7 million represented 70% of the adult population, but the state population grew in the last census. The 4.7 million figure announced Friday includes vaccinated children 12 and older.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey has 54% of its total population fully vaccinated. Pennsylvania is at 48%. The country as a whole is at 45%.