Chloe Ramirez
As of March 2021, only about a third of US states had allowed some restaurant workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. New Jersey expanded its vaccine eligibility to include restaurant workers on March 29, 2021. This was part of the state's rollout of the vaccine in phases, with healthcare workers, first responders, residents 65 and older, smokers, and people between ages 16 and 64 with certain medical conditions being among the first to be eligible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of eligibility announcement | 2021-03-03 |
| Date of eligibility | 2021-03-29 |
| Eligibility | Frontline essential workers in the restaurant, food processing and distribution industries, grocery personnel, warehouse workers, remaining eldercare workers, hospitality workers, elections workers, clergy, postal and other shipping workers, and judicial system employees |
| Vaccine availability | Free or low-cost |
| Vaccine brand | Johnson & Johnson |
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What You'll Learn
- Restaurant workers in New Jersey were clamouring for the vaccine
- Experts agree that restaurant workers should be eligible for the vaccine
- Restaurant workers are more likely to be exposed to the virus at work
- Restaurant workers eligible for the vaccine from March 29, 2021
- New Jersey has been rolling out the vaccine in phases
Restaurant workers in New Jersey were clamouring for the vaccine
In March 2021, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the state was preparing to expand vaccine eligibility to include restaurant workers. Beginning March 29, frontline essential workers in the restaurant, food processing and distribution industries would become eligible for the vaccine. This expansion of eligibility came as the state increased indoor limits for restaurants, bars, and other businesses to 35% capacity.
Demand for the vaccine in New Jersey continued to outpace supply, and the state's vaccine rollout faced criticism for its slow speed. However, Gov. Murphy expressed confidence that an initial shipment of 73,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine would help vaccinate more people. By March 2021, about a third of states, at least 17, had allowed some restaurant workers to get vaccinated, although some only in certain counties. The pressure to return to normal life was mounting, with states like Texas allowing all businesses to fully open and New Jersey loosening indoor dining limits.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available at no or low cost to eligible people in New Jersey through health care providers enrolled in the State-Funded COVID-19 Vaccine Program. People can also purchase health insurance on the state's health exchange, GetCoveredNJ, and may be eligible for subsidy assistance and premium tax credits.
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Experts agree that restaurant workers should be eligible for the vaccine
Restaurant workers in New Jersey have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine since March 29, 2021. This decision was made as part of a big expansion of vaccine eligibility in the state, which included teachers, childcare workers, and other essential workers.
Getting restaurant workers vaccinated will not only make them safer but will also help to rebuild an industry that has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Consumers will feel more comfortable returning to indoor dining if they know that restaurant staff have been properly vaccinated.
In addition, vaccinating restaurant workers is a matter of fairness. Restaurant workers have been deemed essential, and they have been exposed to a lot of people during the pandemic. They have been taking all the necessary precautions, such as wearing masks while interacting with customers. However, diners often do not follow state guidelines and take off their masks as soon as they sit down. Therefore, it is only right that restaurant workers are given access to the vaccine to protect themselves.
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Restaurant workers are more likely to be exposed to the virus at work
In 2021, New Jersey expanded its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include restaurant workers, alongside other essential workers. This was in response to the clamour from restaurant workers for vaccine access, as they are more likely to be exposed to the virus at work.
Indeed, restaurant workers are exposed to a lot of people on a day-to-day basis. Diners are often unmasked as soon as they get to their table, despite state guidelines requiring them to wear face coverings when not eating or drinking. The exposed nature of the industry, therefore, makes them more susceptible to the virus.
Furthermore, the work culture in the service industry in the US often pressures workers to work even when they are sick. Restaurant workers are often threatened by management or cannot afford to lose wages. In fact, a study found that almost 60% of food workers recalled working while ill at some time, with 20% of workers saying that they had worked while ill with vomiting or diarrhea for at least one shift in the previous year. This is a major concern, as the handling of food by an infected person is a contributing factor in up to two-thirds of restaurant-related foodborne outbreaks.
Additionally, restaurant workers are more likely to earn less than the national median salary and are less likely to have paid leave. This means they are more likely to go to work while sick, further increasing the risk of virus exposure and transmission.
Vaccinating restaurant workers is, therefore, a major step towards rebuilding an industry that has been severely impacted by the pandemic. It will not only make restaurant workers safer but also instill consumer confidence in dining out.
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Restaurant workers eligible for the vaccine from March 29, 2021
Restaurant workers in New Jersey have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine since March 29, 2021. This was part of a big expansion in New Jersey's COVID vaccine eligibility, which included teachers, childcare workers, and other essential workers. The state prepared to expand vaccine eligibility over the next month, with the goal of vaccinating 70% of its adult population within a few months.
Prior to this, there had been calls for restaurant workers to be prioritized for the vaccine, as they were more likely to be exposed to the virus at work and were often unable to take time off if they became sick. The dining industry in New Jersey had been severely impacted by the pandemic, and vaccinating restaurant workers was seen as a crucial step toward rebuilding the industry and instilling consumer confidence.
In addition to restaurant workers, the expanded eligibility group on March 29 included frontline essential workers in the food processing and distribution industries, grocery personnel, warehouse workers, remaining eldercare workers, hospitality workers, elections workers, clergy, postal and other shipping workers, and judicial system employees.
New Jersey has been rolling out the vaccine in phases, with healthcare workers, first responders, residents 65 and older, smokers, and people between the ages of 16 and 64 with certain medical conditions initially prioritized. The state faced some challenges with vaccine supply and appointment availability, but it was working towards vaccinating as many eligible residents as possible.
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New Jersey has been rolling out the vaccine in phases
As the state prepared to expand eligibility, Governor Phil Murphy announced that teachers and childcare workers would be the next group eligible as of March 15, followed by frontline essential workers in various industries, including restaurants, on March 29. This expansion aimed to increase access to vaccinations for hundreds of thousands more people in the state.
The inclusion of restaurant workers in the eligible group was welcomed by the industry, which had been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Experts agreed that restaurant workers were at higher risk of exposure to the virus and advocated for their vaccination to ensure the safe reopening of indoor dining. However, the rollout of vaccines to restaurant workers had been inconsistent across different states, with only about a third of states prioritizing this group.
While the expansion of eligibility in New Jersey was a positive step, the state's vaccine rollout faced criticism for the difficulty in obtaining appointments and the slow supply of vaccines from the federal government. Despite these challenges, Governor Murphy expressed confidence in the state's ability to vaccinate its residents, with a goal of inoculating 70% of the adult population in the coming months.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, restaurant workers became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey on March 29, 2021.
Contact your Local Health Departments (LHD) or Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to find vaccine locations.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free for most people with commercial/private insurance, Medicare, and most Medicaid programs. Vaccines are also provided at no or low cost to eligible uninsured or underinsured adults and children through the State-Funded COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
Frontline essential workers in the food processing and distribution industries, grocery personnel, warehouse workers, remaining eldercare workers, hospitality workers, elections workers, clergy, postal and other shipping workers, and judicial system employees.
Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers and other education staff members, child care workers, transportation workers, public safety workers, homeless residents, those living in a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter, and migrant workers.
