Murphy Signs Executive Order Aimed at Tracking COVID-19 Vaccine Data

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Dec 4, 2020

Gov. Phil Murphy today signed an executive order changing the inclusion into the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) from an opt-in program to an opt-out program for any resident who chooses to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

The NJIIS is a confidential, population-based online system that collects and consolidates vaccination data for New Jersey’s children and adults. Individuals who were born after 1998 were already automatically opted into the system, whereas those born before 1998 had to choose to opt in, and were defaulted as being opted out.

“What we are saying through this executive order is very specific to the COVID-19 vaccine: everybody is in [the system],” Murphy said. “We have got to have everybody’s information. The federal government needs it, we need it, and you all should want it and need it so that we can track these doses and make sure that it is as safely and efficiently distributed as possible.”

Murphy said that the order does not force anyone to receive the vaccine, but added that he is “strongly recommending it.”

“This means that if you wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19, you do not have to first opt-in to the system in order to ensure that your two-dose regimen is properly tracked and managed,” Murphy said. “Thirty days after the current public health emergency ends, individuals who [were enrolled] due to the COVID-19 vaccine will be afforded the opportunity to withdraw from the system.”

Murphy said the purpose of the executive order is to “ensure that those who choose to receive a vaccine get the most effective course in the most streamlined manner possible, without logistical or bureaucratic hurdles in the way.”

Several New Jersey hospitals are already prepositioning to receive the first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and Murphy said he anticipates that the first distribution will include a total of 76,000 doses, with additional shipments of doses coming thereafter.

The prepositioning by the hospitals allows them to ensure that delivery and storage systems work, as well as to assist the federal government in expediting shipments and delivery.

“We will be situated to begin providing vaccinations once the vaccine receives emergency use authorization from the FDA,” Murphy said.

“The mere presence of a vaccine in our state does not mean that we can flip a light switch and remove all restrictions,” the governor continued. “This is going to be more like a dimmer, and the light is going to get brighter and brighter over time. To get to full brightness, it will take months and will take millions of New Jerseyans getting vaccinated. [But,] an end can now be considered a when and not an if, and we can count it in months.”

Unemployment Benefit Extension

Separately, Murphy announced this morning that he signed legislation expanding eligibility for 20 weeks of extended unemployment benefits. The Department of Labor provides these benefits to those that have exhausted their state and federal unemployment benefits.

“We hope this will provide peace-of-mind while we continue to work with our congressional delegation to push for the extension of the emergency federal benefits currently in place,” Murphy said.

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