Montclair Health Department

Before the month is out, state officials expect to open the rest of their sites, including one at the Racetrack at the Meadowlands, in East Rutherford. Healthcare workers may make an appointment at any of the mega-sites or satellite sites around the state.

Essex County has six facilities opening up. For Montclair residents, the vaccine is being offered at the former Kmart building on Prospect Avenue in West Orange. 

Interstate sports competitions are still prohibited, since interstate travel for sports has been deemed to be a risk factor for spreading COVID-19. And attendance is limited to those who are directly involved in the game – players, coaches, referees and support staff – and no more than 10 spectators. 

Officials on Monday reported 2,745 new cases, compared to 2,329 on Dec. 27, bringing the total to 463,965 cases. Some 21 new deaths were reported, compared to 20 the previous day, bringing the total to 16,706. 

It is the first time since June 13 that there have been more than 100 deaths reported on a given day, Gov. Phil Murphy said, and the first time since the end of May that there were two or more consecutive days with more than 100 deaths. 

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the state’s allotment of both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has decreased from 492,075 doses to 392,800: a decrease of 20 percent, or 99,275 vaccines. 

Gov. Phil Murphy said the six mega-sites will be able to provide shots to people in Phase 1A, which includes health care workers and other vulnerable populations, and some in Phase 1B, which includes other essential workers. 

Health care workers and long-term care residents will be the first to get vaccinated against the virus. New Jersey however has a goal to vaccinate 70 percent of adults over the next six months.

Because the Moderna vaccine does not require deep-freeze storage, which the Pfizer vaccine does, more hospitals will be able to carry the Moderna vaccine. New Jersey could receive as many as 154,000 vaccines in Moderna’s first shipment. 

The FDA still has to vote on whether to grant authorization, Gov. Phil Murphy said, but if the FDA grants it, the vaccine will arrive in New Jersey within a matter of days.