Vaccines

The pace of New Jerseyans getting first COVID vaccinations has increased over the last two weeks, as concerns have grown about the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

As the highly contagious Delta variant sweeps across New Jersey, new COVID-19 infection totals are shooting higher, almost doubling over the past four days.

CDC data shows that as of July 4, just over 4.7 million New Jersey adults had been fully vaccinated. However, that's still doesn't reach 70%.

Ever since a late-1990s zoonotic outbreak, rabies cases in Cape May County have trended historically low and local officials believe the continued deployment of vaccine-filled baits is a major reason why.

Morris County has reached the 70% goal. Statewide, according to the CDC, 62% of adults are fully vaccinated and 74% have gotten at least one COVID shot.

For all the focus on getting senior citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 to secure and reopen nursing homes, homebound seniors have gotten less attention and been slower to inoculate.

The oft-mentioned goal of fully vaccinating 4.7 million New Jersey adults is based on the 2010 Census. The population has grown almost 500,000 since then.

MVC locations have been closed a combined 1,291 agency days since reopening last July, equaling a 12% closure rate. Since Oct. 1, agencies have been closed due to COVID more than 16% of the time.

Lawmakers look to expand access points to the COVID-19 vaccine. Skeptics worry about doses being wasted at individual offices as opposed to mega-sites.

It's looking like a majority of New Jersey's school children will not see the inside of a classroom this year.