COVID-19 In New Jersey: Police, Firefighters Eligible For Vaccine, Gov. Phil Murphy Says
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Police officers and firefighters in New Jersey are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday. They follow health care workers as the second wave of professionals eligible to get the shot. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy made the announcement Wednesday.
"We are able to open up vaccination to them based on the available supply," Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. New Jersey has about 400,000 shots on hand, she has said, and more than 134,000 vaccines have been administered so far, up from 101,000 the previous day, she said.
Persichilli has added that health care workers and those in long-term care homes continue to be a priority, and expanding vaccination eligibility to another group doesn't mean those earlier categories are now closed to getting the shots.
More than 450,000 people have signed up so far on the state's new vaccine pre-registration site, Murphy said Wednesday.
They will get word when they're eligible to get the shots. The state launched the website on Tuesday and faced technical problems stemming from high demand. Murphy said the state is working with the vendor to fix issues so the site works without interruption.
New Jersey, like other parts of the country, is seeing heightened positivity rates and passed more than 500,000 cases on Wednesday.
There were 104 deaths from the virus reported overnight, putting the total at 17,464.
(©Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
MORE ON CBSPHILLY.COM
Philadelphia Police: Man Shot In Broad Daylight In Oxford Circle Alley
$1 Million-Winning Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket Sold At Market In Roxborough
