Effective April 5, all educators and staff at New Jersey’s institutions of higher learning will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Phil Murphy said during a press conference held March 26 at Kean University.

All New Jerseyans age 55 and older will also be eligible for vaccination starting April 5.

“We are equally pleased and relieved that Gov. Murphy and his administration have recognized the need to make professors and other college-university employees eligible for COVID-19 vaccines,” said AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. “Many of our members worked on campuses throughout this pandemic with limited PPE and no access to testing through their employers. As we ramp up for fall 2021, having higher education employees vaccinated will make the opening of college and university campuses safe for our students, our members, their families and the communities they live in.”

Murphy added that May 1 is “our target date for opening eligibility for everyone in the state of New Jersey age 16 and older who lives, works or studies in this state.”