TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine could become available in New Jersey as soon as early next week, pending federal government approval, state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Friday.
Pfizer’s vaccine is currently under consideration by the Food and Drug Administration, with the White House pushing for it to approve the shot on Friday. Persichilli said the turnaround time once final approval is given, and the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention sign off, is just 24 hours.
She predicted that could mean the first doses of the vaccine will administered Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, she said Friday during a news conference alongside Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
Health care workers and residents at long-term care facilities are expected to be the first groups to get the vaccine.
Six hospitals across the state will have the vaccine “pre-positioned” so they can begin administering soon after approval is granted, she said.
She didn’t specify which hospitals they were, but the state’s approach to tracking hospitalizations from the vaccine has centered on northern, central and southern regions, suggesting the hospitals would be located around the state.
New Jersey, like the rest of the country, has seen a resurgence of the virus, with daily caseloads climbing above their highest points in the spring. The rolling weekly average has also ticked up steadily.
On Friday, Murphy reported an addition 55 deaths, putting the total at 15,794.
He also announced that 10 bars and restaurants were having their liquor licenses suspended because they failed to follow coronavirus guidelines.
“Let these charges send a perfectly clear signal to any bar or restaurant owner who thinks this won’t happen to you,” he said, adding that most proprietors were following the guidelines.
Bars and restaurants are limited to 25% capacity indoors and must close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. under executive orders Murphy has signed.
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