Law enforcement officers and firefighters are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday as the state moves into the second phase of the distribution process.

The state's goal is to vaccinate 70% of the adult population in six months. That's 4.7 million who live, work or learn in the Garden State by June.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Health Commissioner Judy Percichilli are hopeful their new registration portal will help get the job done. Registering does not mean you have signed up for the vaccine. You don't have to register to eventually get a dose, but officials recommend that people do so.

If you are eligible for the next phase and registered, you should be receiving an email or text prompting you to make an appointment, which is recommended.

"One phase will overlap with another,” says Percichilli. “We will not wait for all people in one phase to be vaccinated before opening to an additional group.”

The health commissioner says all registration information is kept private.