PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Starting Tuesday, COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for residents in New Jersey. That first batch of doses will be available for health care workers as well as long-term care facility residents and staff.
Gov. Phil Murphy said they have 76,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine ready to be administered. The first round will be administered Tuesday morning at University Hospital in Newark.
Murphy plans to be present for the first round of vaccinations, along with New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.
"This is coming and by the way, I think by April, May, everyone will have access to one of these vaccines," he projected.
While on ABC's This Week, Murphy made it clear that even with a vaccine available residents need to continue to social distance and follow COVID-19 restrictions that are in place.
"For all the good news, the light at the end of the tunnel, and the vaccine exemplifies that as much as anything, the next number of weeks are going to be hell, I fear. So we're begging people to please, please, please don't let your guard down, even when you're in private settings," he urged.
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Murphy says 60-80% of COVID transmission is happening in private settings, that's why they're encouraging people to hold off on those holiday gatherings.
"Celebrate holidays small with your immediate family," he pleaded. "We know that stinks but please, God, that's your down payment on a more normal one next year."
News of the vaccine's availability in New Jersey comes as the state announced 4,170 new cases Sunday, following a new case count of 6,247 on Saturday, its highest since the start of the pandemic.