Gov. Murphy to NJ Health Care Workers: Get Vaccine or Get Fired

Gov. Phil Murphy is signing an executive order requiring all New Jersey health care workers, including those who are employed at long-term care and assisted living facilities and other congregate care settings, to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID.

During a stop in South Jersey on Wednesday, the governor said the new rule requires all workers in health care settings “to be up to date on their vaccinations, that means both primary course and booster with no test-out option.”

Murphy noted the test-out option is already coming to an end because of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last week.

Time is running out

He said unvaccinated workers in health care settings have until Jan. 27 to get their first vaccine dose, and they must get the second shot by Feb. 28.

For those workers in high-risk congregate living facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, veterans homes and correctional facilities, Murphy said unvaccinated workers have until Feb. 28 to get a first dose and March 30 to get a second.

He said health care workers already vaccinated have until Feb. 28 to get boosted, and those in high-risk congregate living facilities must get boosted by March 30.

Get vaccinated and boosted or else

“Anyone found in non-compliance will be subject to their workplace’s disciplinary process, up to and including termination,” said the governor.

“We are no longer going to look past those who continue to put their colleagues and perhaps I think even more importantly those who are their responsibility in danger of COVID. That has to stop.”

You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com.