Gov. Murphy: NJ Nears Halfway Mark In COVID-19 Vaccine Goal

Ocean City NJ

29 March, 2021

3:52 PM

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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 29 at 3 p.m., according to NJDOH data. Thirty-eight percent of New Jersey's adult population, or 2,638,138 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