TRENTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — All adults in the state of New Jersey will soon be eligible for their COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday.
“Effective two weeks from today, so this is April 19, all New Jerseyans age 16 and over will be eligible for vaccination,” the governor announced, adding that is 12 days ahead of they state’s previous May 1 target.
“Given the trajectory we're on, we believe this is the right time to put our program into higher gear,” the governor added.
The news came Monday as the state opened up eligibility to residents 55 years of age and older, as well as those 16 and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
New Jersey residents who work in higher education, libraries, real estate, communications, construction, laundry services, retail, financial institutions and utility workers are also among a long list of workers who can now book appointments.
Gov. Murphy had said he and his wife will sign up to get the shot "through the same process that millions of New Jerseyans have done for theirs"
The governor said he understands the difficulty in getting a vaccination appointment, but says everyone who wants to be inoculated should have the opportunity to do so.
"We're not suggesting that everybody who wants one has got one but we want to make sure that we continue these overlapping waves and we believe we can responsibly move that date up from May 1 to April 19, and at that point make this available to anyone 16 and over," the governor said.
So far, New Jersey has vaccinated close to 20% of adults.
The goal is 70% by the end of May.
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