N.J. teachers, day care workers are eligible for COVID vaccine NOW, but confusion lingers – NJ.com

When Gov. Phil Murphy announced a large expansion of a COVID vaccine eligibility last week, teachers and daycare workers were included in a new group that could start getting shots March 15, but the state changed that to immediate eligibility on the Department of Health’s website as early as Friday without a public announcement following a federal mandate.

Department of Health officials confirmed the change to NJ Advance Media late Friday that Pre-K to 12 educators and staff as well as daycare employees are “currently eligible.”

The timeframe moved up because they were heeding the call of President Joe Biden to prioritize educators, officials said. The state, however, made no broader announcement of the change, though Murphy and other officials visited a vaccination site at Rowan College of South Jersey to cheer on teachers getting their first vaccine doses.

Still, confusion lingered Tuesday morning even for the most of the six state-supported vaccine mega-sites. The Atlantic County mega-site and the Morris County mega-site both specifically listed teachers and daycare workers under the now-incorrect March 15 eligibility date. Two other mega-sites in Middlesex and Bergen counties did not list either occupation as among those eligible.

The Burlington mega-site and the Gloucester site, which uses a state-based registration system, included both occupations. The state has around 600 public and private vaccine locations now offering shots including big provider like CVS, which now has more than 160 locations. The CVS booking site correctly lists educators and day care as eligible.

When asked about the confusion Tuesday morning, a state Department of Health spokesperson provided NJ Advance Media with a link to all of the people who are currently eligible and said the websites for the mega-sites would be updated accordingly.

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Those currently eligible include:

  • Paid and unpaid healthcare workers
  • Residents and workers of long-term care and high-risk congregate care facilities
  • First responders including sworn law enforcement and fire professionals
  • Individuals aged over 65
  • Individuals aged 16-64 that have certain medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus
  • Pre-K to 12 educators and staff
  • Childcare workers in licensed and registered settings

The list of medical conditions for those between 16-64 includes:

  • Cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Down Syndrome
  • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
  • Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
  • Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Smoking
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Beginning Monday, March 15, the following categories are eligible for vaccination:

  • Public and local transportation workers, including bus, taxi, rideshare, and airport employees; NJ TRANSIT workers; and Motor Vehicle Commission staff;
  • Public safety workers who are not sworn law enforcement or fire professionals, including probation officers and fire safety inspectors;
  • Migrant farm workers;
  • Members of tribal communities;
  • Individuals experiencing homelessness and those living in shelters, including domestic violence shelters.

In addition, on March 15, individuals with the following conditions that might be at increased risk for severe illness from the virus, will be added to the list of individuals at high risk and eligible for vaccination:

  • Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
  • Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Hypertension or high blood pressure
  • Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
  • Liver disease
  • Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
  • Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
  • Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Beginning on Monday, March 29, frontline essential workers in the following categories are also eligible for vaccination:

  • Food production, agriculture, and food distribution;
  • Eldercare and support;
  • Warehousing and logistics;
  • Social services support staff;
  • Elections personnel;
  • Hospitality;
  • Medical supply chain;
  • Postal and shipping services;
  • Clergy;
  • Judicial system.

The state has administered 2,531,555 vaccines as of Tuesday, including 1,670,277 first doses and 860,702 second doses, according to state figures. New Jersey has received more than 3 million doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.