Gov. Murphy expands eligibility for New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination program

NEW JERSEY – Governor Murphy Friday announced the expansion of eligibility for more frontline essential workers and high-risk groups in New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination program. Eligible groups include individuals ages 55-64, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, higher education educators and staff, and communications and utility infrastructure workers among others.

“Our Administration has worked closely with communities to build an extensive vaccination infrastructure and has opened over 700 vaccination sites across the state,” Murphy said. “We are already averaging approximately half a million shots per week, and with an expected increase in our federal allocation, we are confident we can expand our vaccination program to more of our essential workers and vulnerable populations. Together with our community partners and a steady supply of vaccine from the federal government, we will meet – and exceed – our goal of vaccinating 4.7 million New Jersey adults.”

“New Jersey’s phased vaccine rollout continues to prioritize preventing severe illness and death and supporting essential societal functioning,” New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. “With the anticipated increased supply of vaccine, more New Jersey residents will have the opportunity to be protected against COVID-19.”

“The strength and resilience of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout this public health emergency has been amazing,” New Jersey Department of Human Services Acting Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “We’re very pleased to be able to make vaccination more accessible so individuals can return to their normal lives in the community. In partnership with the Department of Health, we have been working since January to help vaccinate individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in congregate settings, and have been encouraging individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who met other criteria to sign up for vaccination. We’re now thrilled to be able to include all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities over the age of 16, who, along with their families and caregivers, have persevered through so much in the past year. I encourage all eligible individuals to register to get vaccinated and help bring this pandemic closer to an end.”

Beginning Monday, April 5, the following groups are eligible for vaccination:

• Individuals ages 55-64;
• Individuals ages 16 and up with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• Educators, including support staff, in higher education settings;
• Communications infrastructure support, including engineers, and technicians, and members of the press;
• Real estate, building, and home service workers, including construction workers, code officials, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, property management, and maintenance workers;
• Retail financial institution workers, including bank tellers, lending services, public accounting, and check-cashing workers;
• Sanitation workers providing disinfection and janitorial services, city sanitation workers; residential, commercial, and industrial solid and hazardous waste removal workers;
• Laundry service workers, including those working in laundromats, laundry services, and dry cleaners;
• Utility workers including, electrical generation and supply system, natural gas delivery, nuclear power plant, water supply, telephone, cable/fiber/optical/broadband/cellular service workers; and,
• Librarians and support staff at municipal, county, and state libraries.

For more information about eligibility, statewide vaccination site locations, and to preregister for a vaccination, visit https://covid19.nj.gov/vaccine.

For more information on CDC criteria for eligibility, click here.