New Jersey says it plans to vaccinate 70% of its adult population – about 4.7 million people – in the next six months. Officials said the doses should be available to the general public in April or May.
That includes workers who live outside the state, students who come to New Jersey and undocumented workers, state officials said.
“The Department has consistently stated that we will provide equal access to everyone who lives, works and is being educated in New Jersey,” said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the health department.
On Wednesday, State Police Commissioner Pat Callahan said officers who live outside the state but work in New Jersey, or who live here but work outside the state, can get vaccines at Garden State.
“We have many federal law enforcement partners. Perhaps an agent lives in Manhattan, but works in the Newark office. That Port Authority officer who can live in Jersey but work at JFK Airport … I just wanted to make sure we made that clear, ”said Callahan. “The goal is to get this entire population, in addition to all the others, to be vaccinated. “
The order of distribution of the vaccine begins with healthcare professionals and residents and nursing home staff, all in category 1a.
As of Thursday, firefighters and police, part of Phase 1b, will be eligible to receive the vaccines.
Other members of group 1b include other first responders, food service workers, educators, support staff and childcare, public transport workers and workers who support radio, press, internet and television services, news and media, according to the page 188 updated state vaccination plan that was launched in December. Other “critical” and “essential” workers are also included in 1b, the plan said.
People 75 and older will also be part of Phase 1b, the Department of Health said.
Phase 1c will follow. This would include those aged 16 to 64 in high-risk conditions and other adults aged 65 to 75, according to the plan. It would also include “people who live or work in crowded or overcrowded environments,” such as colleges and universities, migrant workers and tribal populations, who were listed in an earlier version of the plan as in category 1b, the plan said. Again, no schedule has been announced by the state.
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Advocacy groups say they are working with communities to ensure that undocumented people receive the vaccine.
“Undocumented immigrants and their families – no matter what their status – have been left behind in virtually every form of COVID assistance, leading to extreme suffering, widespread economic insecurity and greater vulnerability to the virus,” said Sara Cullinane, director of Make The Road New Jersey. “They must have access to the vaccine. This means ensuring free dosages for individuals without insurance, privacy protections and accessible vaccination sites with culturally competent providers. “
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Karin Price Mueller can be contacted at [email protected].