New groups of individuals including transportation workers and public safety workers will be eligible to book vaccine appointments starting March 15, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced March 1.
Murphy also increased the number of people allowed in general indoor gatherings to 25 and said that restaurants can now serve up to 50% capacity indoors.
Pat Linfante, the Associate Vice President for Public Safety, said the news was encouraging for workers at Seton Hall such as SHUfly and SafeRide drivers or other on-campus public safety officers.
“We are highly encouraged to see the rapid increase in vaccine availability in our state and nation,” Linfante said. “We also encourage all members of our University to get vaccinated.”
The University outlined plans for a potential on-campus vaccination program at an SGA-hosted town hall meeting on Wednesday.
Diane Lynch, director of Health Services encouraged students to “take the first available opportunity to get vaccinated.”
Last week marked the anniversary of Seton Hall’s switch to remote learning.
Harry Burns, a senior English major, said he was glad to hear the news that the state was expanding its vaccine eligibility criteria..
“The more people that can get the vaccine, the better,” Burns said. “People have been waiting a long time for this, and measures like these will help the situation within the state improve tremendously.”
Josh Furer, a sophomore finance and IT management major, said he was cautiously excited and expressed concern about the relaxing of restrictions by the state.
“I know it’s good that they are making progress with the vaccine and that more people are able to get it,” Furer said. “But if measures keep loosening up at such a rate, I feel like the state might make a wrong turn at some point.”
Jose Balderrama can be reached at jose.balderramaornelas@student.shu.edu
