SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — In two weeks, all adults in New Jersey will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday that eligibility is expanding to people 16 and older starting April 19.
"That's about 12 days ahead of our initial target that had been May 1," he said, "but given the trajectory we are on, we believe this is the right time to put our program into higher gear."
Currently in New Jersey, more than 1.7 million people are fully vaccinated, which is 38% of the state's goal. The Garden State aims to vaccinate 4.7 million adults — 70% of the eligible population — by June 30.
People who are currently eligible, as of Monday, include residents 55 and older; individuals 16 and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities; higher education and library staff; media; and other essential workers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced a similar vaccine update last week, in which all adults will be eligible also on April 19.
Being vaccine-eligible does not guarantee an immediate appointment for the shot. Individuals who are vaccine-eligible can register for an appointment.
Murphy said vaccine supplies have been increasing so the state is comfortable in expanding eligibility.
"Not only are we getting more shots in arms on a daily basis, but we have made the vaccines more accessible even with the ongoing supply-demand challenge, and it continues," he said. "We know that."
New Jersey is expected to receive 550,000 vaccine doses this week alone. Murphy said two months ago, 180,000 New Jerseyans had been fully vaccinated. One month ago, that figure increased to 789,000.
On Monday, Murphy also announced fully vaccinated people no longer have to self-quarantine or get tested before or after domestic trips.
