New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy revealed an executive order Wednesday mandating all workers in healthcare and high-risk congregate living facilities be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.
The Democrat said there will be no “test out” option for the workers, noting that option was already set to end for healthcare workers due to the Supreme Court ruling upholding a federal vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Workers who do not comply with the mandate could be terminated, the governor said.
“The science tells us it is no longer good enough just to receive the primary series as being boosted is necessary to protect yourself and those around you,” Murphy said during a press conference on Wednesday. “Therefore, everyone who works in these settings is required to get a booster.”
Eligible healthcare workers are required to get a booster shot by Feb. 28. Eligible high-risk congregate living facilities, which includes prisons and nursing homes, are required to comply by March 30. The state will allow exemptions for disabilities, other medical reasons, or deeply held religious beliefs.
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Unvaccinated healthcare workers have until Jan. 27 to get their first vaccine dose and must complete their “primary vaccination series” by Feb. 28. Unvaccinated workers in high-risk congregate living facilities have until Feb. 28 to get their first vaccine and March 30 to complete their “primary vaccination series.” Both sets of unvaccinated workers are required to receive their booster shots within three weeks of becoming eligible.
Other states are mandating healthcare workers get booster shots, including Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and New York, Skilled Nursing News reported.
Nationwide, a mandate for healthcare workers who provide for Medicare and Medicaid patients will take effect on Jan. 27, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The order requires workers to get fully vaccinated with at least two doses against COVID-19. They are required to take the first dose by Jan. 27 and the second by Feb. 28.
New Jersey most recently recorded 11,187 new COVID-19 cases from positive antigen and PCR tests and 145 new COVID-19-related deaths, according to the governor. Cases have been trending down, but Murphy cautioned the numbers may not reflect data from at-home tests. The state reached a record number of daily cases on Jan. 7 when it reported 38,461 cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
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The state has about 73.56% of its population fully vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine, according to data from the state. This is above the national average, which has 63% of the population fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey has also administered at least 2,614,855 doses of the booster shot, accounting for about 40% of people eligible for the booster. This is also above the national average of 38.7%, according to the CDC.
