Gov. Phil Murphy is adding teachers and other essential workers to the front of the vaccine line now that Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 is approved for use.

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The FDA gave final approval to the single-dose vaccine on Saturday. Murphy said Friday said an initial shipment of 70,000 doses are expected to arrive in New Jersey this week.

Murphy said on Twitter Monday morning that pre-K-12 educators and support staff, child care workers, transportation workers and additional public safety workers will be eligible starting March 15. Additional details would be disclosed at Monday's coronavirus briefing scheduled for 1 p.m.

Murphy on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" said that including educators would go a long way toward reopening classrooms for full in-person instruction. He answered "yes" when asked if New Jersey schools would be fully open in September.

The addition of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine means that anyone who wants to take one of the three available vaccines would be able to regardless of their age, health or job by the end of May, according to the governor.

It will also ramp up effort to fully open up the state.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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