NJ to Begin Vaccinating Those 65+ This Week

New Jersey, effective immediately, will begin to offer the coronavirus vaccine to all adults age 65 and older, and those between 16 and 64 who have a pre-existing condition.

Governor Phil Murphy, at his press conference on Wednesday, said he expected the state to begin to distributing to the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions “effective almost immediately, within the next day or two.”

Pre-existing conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart conditions, obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In a statement released several hours later, he said the new vaccination drive for those now eligible would begin tomorrow, on Thursday.

Murphy said the state plan is to vaccinate all those now eligible by the end of February.

“Over the last several months, our Administration has built the infrastructure and laid the groundwork to support New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination demand,” said Murphy. “Based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are ready to begin ramping up our vaccination efforts exponentially and are confident in our ability to provide every willing New Jersey resident with a vaccine when it is available and they are eligible.”