Pre-K-12 educators and childcare workers in licensed and registered settings are now eligible for the vaccine. Beginning Monday, March 15th, additional categories of people will be eligible to book vaccine appointments, including transportation workers, migrant farm workers, members of tribal communities, individuals experiencing homelessness or living in shelters, and more. Additional frontline essential workers will be eligible on Monday, March 29th.

As of Friday, March 5th at 6 a.m., indoor wedding receptions can allow guests of up to 35 percent of the capacity of the room in which they are held, but no more than 150 people. Outdoor wedding receptions will be allowed up to 150 individuals. Receptions must follow indoor and outdoor dining guidance, which requires that people are seated while they eat and drink and wear face coverings at all other times.

As of this week, more than 2.3 million vaccine doses have been administered in New Jersey and more than 1.5 million individuals have received at least one dose. The State is currently in the process of receiving and distributing its first shipments of Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

To get vaccinated, you can:

• See if you are eligible to get the vaccine
• Register in the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System to be contacted when you become eligible and to be notified when an appointment is available to you through the Vaccine Scheduling System.
• If you are eligible, schedule an appointment directly with vaccination sites, many of which do not take appointments through the Vaccine Scheduling System.

The Federal and New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) programs can help put money back in your pockets. In 2021, more money is available and more tax filers are eligible than ever before. Free tax return preparation is also available for people who generally make $57,000 or less, people with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers. Find free tax prep help near you, and learn more about the NJ EITC at njeitc.org.

The State’s moratorium preventing New Jersey residents from having their gas, electric, and water utilities disconnected has been extended through at least June 30th, 2021. Also, providers cannot disconnect internet services in households that have one or more school-age children that may be using the internet for educational purposes. In addition, providers cannot disconnect internet or voice services to any New Jersey resident with an existing account without first offering to enroll the customer in an interest-free payment plan of at least twelve months.

Every week, the Department of Health is issuing a new edition of Vax Matters, their vaccination newsletter. Last week’s issue provided updates on vaccination progress and took a step back to acknowledge the challenges faced since COVID-19 arrived to New Jersey one year ago. A pdf of the latest issue is available at the link below.