New Jersey Marks Anniversary Of First COVID Vaccine: Video

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It’s been a year since the first COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey went into an emergency room nurse’s arm in Essex County. Since then, that process has been repeated nearly 14.5 million times across the state.

And New Jersey isn’t done yet, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.

On Wednesday – the anniversary of the milestone first dose – Murphy and other officials returned to Newark to encourage eligible people to get their booster shots (watch the video below).

To mark the anniversary, Murphy and Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli designated Dec. 15 as “Boost NJ Day,” with vaccination sites offering expanded walk-in availability and extended hours to increase accessibility and encourage booster doses.

More than seven million New Jerseyans have received at least their first dose, and more than six million have completed their primary vaccination course. In addition, 1.5 million eligible New Jerseyans have received their booster dose.

It’s all good news, according to Murphy. But New Jersey can’t slow down now, he added.

“Over the last year, we have learned that vaccines are the best tool we have in preventing hospitalizations and death, and millions of New Jerseyans have rolled up their sleeves to protect themselves, their families and their communities,” Murphy said.

“However, with data showing waning immunity over time, we encourage all New Jerseyans ages 16 and older to receive a necessary booster dose to enhance their protection against COVID-19,” the governor added.

Persichilli said it’s “critical” for people to maintain their protection against the virus, especially with “waning immunity and increased holiday travel and gatherings.” And that means one thing, she said: booster shots.

“Over 4.7 million people are eligible for booster doses in New Jersey, and yet only about 37 percent have gotten that additional shot of protection so far,” Persichilli said. “We must do better.”

Shereef Elnahal, president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark, said things are looking “worlds different” from December 2020, largely thanks to a vaccine rollout that was “among the best in the country.”

But New Jersey is facing new and unanticipated challenges with the delta and omicron variants, he added.

“We have a task ahead of us, to communicate clearly to this community that boosting is necessary to keep folks safe,” Elnahal said.

• See related article: Meet 5 Newark Hospital Workers Who Got Historic Vaccinations

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