New NJ COVID Vaccine Phone Number As State 'Peaks' In Second Wave

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Murphy says New Jersey will offer a telephone number for vaccine appointments now that cases continue to rise, immunization appointments are running scarce and the state's COVID-19 second wave has "peaked." The new coronavirus strain also has arrived in the Garden State.

Murphy, speaking during News12's "Ask Governor Murphy" program on Thursday night, said his administration is working to push the vaccine's distribution to those who can't easily access the state's vaccine portal now that the coronavirus is posing bigger challenges to New Jersey.

The call center will become operational at 8 a.m. Monday at 855-568-0545.

Murphy addressed the new telephone service as he announced that two cases of new, quicker-spreading coronavirus strain were identified in New Jersey, and state officials provided details. Read more: New Coronavirus Strain Arrives In NJ

Murphy said his administration has heard from seniors and others who are having trouble accessing the internet, and he acknowledged that residents needed another option.

"That's going to be another way folks can get into the program, get help and get their appointment scheduled," Murphy said.

On the News12 program, Murphy acknowledged that many people have failed to get a vaccine even though they qualify, and some have even had appointments canceled on them with no explanation given.

Murphy shifted blame to the federal government even though the state has administered 456,000 doses of the 950,000 shipped to New Jersey, running behind other states.

Murphy said New Jersey has made appointments based on what the federal government has promised the state. Officials, however, have discovered that the state does not have enough supplies "thanks to the feds' underperformance to meet the demand of those communities."

The governor says he expects things to change drastically under the Biden administration.

"The federal program, in particular, is frustratingly slow, and so we want them to put more manpower, more urgency, and accelerate those appointments," Murphy told News 12.

Murphy said the state is trying to contain the virus and push New Jersey closer to herd immunity now that modeling that shows that the second wave is "peaking as we speak." Read more: Gov. Murphy Extends NJ COVID Emergency, Addresses Vaccine Concern

New Jersey's new daily cases hit a peak seven-day average high earlier this month, but they shrank somewhat over the past week. After hitting an all-time high of 6,922 on Jan. 13, the Garden State reported 4,095 new cases Thursday. Hospitalizations, however, have risen slightly over the past month.

Murphy hopes that, by the end of the month, "a number of things then start to happen."

"No. 1, the curve, the epidemiological curve, God willing, please God, starts to come down with fewer cases," he said. "The weather will eventually get warmer, the vaccine distribution will get broader, and all that means that this gets better and better."

Murphy said he believes that the economy and reopenings can happen by the second or third quarter of this year, or April through September.

The governor said this as lawmakers are pushing forward a plan to curb Murphy's authority and reopen more of New Jersey's economy. Read more: NJ Lawmakers Push Big Changes To Gov. Murphy's COVID Management

Murphy said he'd like to open up indoor sports to spectators and "it's killing me as a dad, but we're literally in the peak right now of this second wave."

"It's peaking higher than the spring," he said. "It's less lethal, although many people are still dying."

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