New Jersey will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility beginning April 5 to people ages 55 years old and older and to people 16 and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Gov. Phil Murphy made the announcement on Friday.

Also included in the expansion are higher education teachers and staff, communications and utility infrastructure workers, sanitation workers, librarians and members of the media.

The expansion to millions of residents and those who work in New Jersey means millions of more people can get the vaccine. It comes just as the state expects to see what Murphy has called a quantum leap in the number of vaccines it receives from the federal government.

This also includes a new community vaccination megasite run by FEMA that is opening at NJIT in Newark. The site will have the capacity to vaccinate 6,000 people per day. Vaccines will be provided directly from the federal government.

VACCINE INFORMATION: Check to see if you are eligible

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Where and how to get vaccinated

SEARCH FOR A CURE: Statistics and State Resources,

“Through this expansion, as well as the increase in doses at the community vaccination site at NJIT, we can set May 1 as our target date for opening eligibility for everyone in the state of New Jersey, age 16 and older, who lives, works, or studies in this state,” Murphy said. “We want everyone to have a date they can look forward to and I know everyone is anxious to get their shot."

New Jersey is the No. 1 state for new COVID-19 cases per capita over the past two weeks.