Gov. Phil Murphy has signed an executive order to streamline New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination process.
The order will change the New Jersey Immunization Information System from an opt-in to an opt-out program.
“This means that if you wish to be vaccinated against COVD-19, and believe me, if we tell you it’s safe, we want you to do that – you don’t have to first opt in to the system to make sure that your two-dose regimen is properly tracked and managed. Thirty days after the current public health emergency ends, which I hope is sooner than later, individuals who enrolled due to the COVID-19 vaccine, will be afforded the opportunity to withdraw from the system,” Murphy said.
The order does not force anyone to receive the vaccine. It only ensures that those who chose to get vaccinated will have the most “effective course” in doing so.
Murphy made the announcement on Friday at his COVID-19 briefing. The governor also announced that for the second day in a row, New Jersey has logged a record number of new COVID-19 cases at nearly 5,700.
There are currently 3,315 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, up 23 since Thursday. There are 615 patients in the ICU and 386 on ventilators.
The state also confirmed 48 additional deaths.
But the rate of transmission has decreased again for the 16th day in a row and is now down to 1.05.