NJ Nears Halfway Mark In COVID-19 Vaccine Goal: See Latest Data

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is nearly halfway to its initial goal of vaccinating 4.7 million residents against the coronavirus this spring, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.

Garden State officials are aiming to inoculate 70 percent of its adult population, which equals 4.7 million people, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

In New Jersey, more than four million total doses have been administered as of March 30 at 3 p.m., according to NJDOH data. Thirty-eight percent of New Jersey's adult population, or 2,708,314 residents, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 21 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

The latest data provided in the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration data tracker shows how New Jersey’s vaccination rate stacks up against other states.

New Jersey currently ranks sixth among states by the percentage of COVID-19 vaccines they have distributed. The state administered 86.4 percent of the doses it was allocated, according to Becker's Hospital Review.

Neighboring states rank behind New Jersey's rate of distribution, with Pennsylvania at 80.8 percent and New York at 77.9 percent. Wisconsin has administered the highest percentage of COVID-19 vaccines it has received at 93.7 percent.

As of Monday, New Jersey ranks eighth among states with people who have received at least one dose, according to NPR. New Jersey has advanced in these rankings since earlier this month when the state placed 26th on March 3.

The state has been ranked 16th among states with fully vaccinated residents. New Jersey previously placed 29th in terms of its fully vaccinated population on March 3.

Nationally, more than 143 million doses have been administered. Over 51.5 million people, or 15.5 percent, of the total U.S. population has been fully vaccinated.

This week, New Jersey is expected to receive 494,430 doses, a "nearly 20 percent" increase week over week, according to Murphy.

Starting Monday, additional frontline essential workers are eligible to book vaccine appointments:

• Food production, agriculture and food distribution (including grocery store and restaurant workers)
• Eldercare and support
• Warehousing and logistics
• Social services support staff
• Elections personnel
• Hospitality
• Medical supply chain
• Postal and shipping services
• Clergy
• Judicial system

Who's already eligible?

• Paid and unpaid healthcare workers
• Residents and workers of long-term care and high-risk congregate care facilities
• First responders including sworn law enforcement and fire professionals
• Individuals aged over 65
• Individuals aged 16-64 that have certain medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus
• Pre-K to 12 educators and staff
• Childcare workers in licensed and registered settings
• Transportation workers
• Additional high-risk individuals

• Additional public safety workers

Who becomes eligible April 5?

• Individuals 55 and over
• 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 and cable/fiber/optical/broadband/cellular service workers
• Librarians and support staff at municipal, county and state libraries

Where and How to Find Appointments

Patch has gathered tips that may help for securing vaccine appointments and websites with additional information:

• Join the New Jersey Covid Vaccine Info Facebook group. The 61,000-member group gives New Jerseyans the opportunity to share up-to-date information on vaccine availability.
• Follow VaxxUpdates on Twitter. The page helps Garden State residents secure vaccine appointments with instant updates on availability.
• CVS and Rite Aid began scheduling COVID-19 appointments at locations that will receive vaccines. But appointments fill up quickly. CVS, Rite Aid and Walmart have expanded their number of sites. Read more: CVS Adding 30 COVID-19 Vaccine Sites In New Jersey
• CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold periodically opens registration. They will email a link when you're eligible for an appointment.
• Check out the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration FAQ from RWJBarnabas Health.
You can sign up at their website to be alerted when the vaccine becomes available in your area.
• ShopRite sometimes has a wait time to access its vaccine scheduler, but it allows the public to make appointments.

Are There Enough Doses?

Gov. Phil Murphy expects New Jersey's vaccine supply to meet demand soon. This week, New Jersey expects to receive 494,430 doses, a "nearly 20 percent" increase week over week, according to the governor.

May 1 is the target date to open eligibility for everyone 16 and older who lives, studies or works in the Garden State.

For more vaccine information, visit our New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccination Hub.