Federal Vaccination Site Opening In Hard-Hit Newark As Disparities Persist

FEMA will open a vaccination site at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark on Monday that will eventually be able to administer 6,000 doses a day. The location's intended to increase vaccine access by people of color. In the state, only 7% of doses have been administered to the Latinx community and 5% to Black residents, even though these groups make up more a third of the population.

"We have got to get these shots into the arms of everybody in our state, not just some," Gov. Phil Murphy said. The Newark site will receive 42,000 vaccines a week, which will be in addition to what's already allocated to the state. 

New Jersey will also allow people ages 55 and older and additional groups of essential workers to qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine starting on April 5. 

Murphy said anyone working in laundromats, dry cleaners, higher education, libraries, sanitation, construction, media or plumbing will qualify. Additionally, those over the age of 16 with an intellectual or developmental disability will also be eligible. 

“We want everyone to have a date they can look forward to and I know everyone is anxious to get their shot,” Murphy said during a visit to a vaccination site at Kean University on Friday. So far, more than 1.3 million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in New Jersey, about 14% of the population.