TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy rolled up his sleeve for one final time in office this week, receiving both his COVID-19 booster and annual flu shot alongside First Lady Tammy Murphy at a Walgreens in New Jersey.
Murphy, who has been one of the state’s most visible advocates for vaccination since the onset of the pandemic, used the moment to again urge residents to stay up to date on their immunizations.
“These vaccines are safe and effective — and everyone six months and older is eligible in New Jersey,” Murphy said in a statement posted to social media. “We encourage everyone to do your part to keep you and your family healthy.”
Key Points
- Governor Phil Murphy receives his final COVID-19 and flu shots before leaving office
- His tenure defined in part by pandemic leadership and public health policy
- Pandemic-era decisions drew both praise for swift action and criticism over nursing home deaths and transparency
Pandemic leadership and early action
When COVID-19 struck New Jersey in March 2020, the state quickly became one of the hardest-hit in the country. Governor Murphy issued sweeping lockdowns, business closures, and mask mandates — actions that health experts said helped slow viral spread but also triggered sharp political and economic backlash.
Murphy’s daily televised briefings became a fixture of the early pandemic, as he sought to balance public health messaging with a push to maintain calm amid uncertainty. His administration oversaw one of the largest vaccine rollout programs in the region, eventually achieving one of the nation’s highest vaccination rates by mid-2021.
Criticism over nursing home handling and mandates
Murphy’s handling of long-term care facilities remains one of the most controversial aspects of his pandemic response. More than 10,000 residents of nursing homes and veterans’ homes in New Jersey died from COVID-19, prompting lawsuits, public outcry, and calls for greater transparency about state decision-making in the early months of the crisis.
Critics — including Republican lawmakers and some grieving families — accused the administration of mismanagement and poor communication with facility operators. Murphy defended the state’s actions, citing limited federal guidance at the time and the unprecedented nature of the pandemic.
The governor also faced opposition over mask and vaccine mandates for state workers and educators, policies that drew protests at the State House but remained in place until mid-2022.
Political impact and legacy
Despite the controversies, Murphy won re-election in 2021, becoming the first Democratic governor in New Jersey to do so in more than four decades. His pandemic-era leadership cemented his national profile and placed him in broader Democratic discussions on public health, education, and economic recovery policy.
As his term nears its end, Murphy’s decision to publicly receive his final COVID-19 booster and flu shot serves as a symbolic bookend to an administration that began under the shadow of a historic health crisis — one that defined his governorship and reshaped New Jersey’s political landscape.
