>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

AND HORSE THAT, COMMITTED TO A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING A PERIOD IT IS NOT BEEN A GOOD WEEK FOR THE STATE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE CALL CENTER.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS PUTTING ALL REQUESTS TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS THROUGH THE HOTLINE HAVE A REALLY ON HOLD AFTER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALLERS INUNDATED BEAUMONT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OPENING AND OVERWHELMED AGENTS BEGAN MISTAKENLY DOUBLE BOOKING APPOINTMENTS, GETTING FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS CONFUSING INFORMATION.

APPOINTMENTS FOR A FIRST DOSE ARE IN HIGH DEMAND, MUCH GREATER THAN THE SUPPLY.

AS OF TODAY 1.1 MILLION DOSES GIVEN OUT STATEWIDE, 285,002ND DOSES.

THE CALL CENTER WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP LOANABLE RESIDENTS OF THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

INSTEAD, HE LEFT THEM HANGING ON THE LINE.

OUR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT IS BREAKING A PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> Reporter: REBECCA JONAH SPENT HOURS TRYING TO GET APPOINTMENTS FOR HER ELDERLY MOM.

THE STATE WEBSITE DIDN'T RESPOND, SO LIKE MANY DESPERATE TO GET THE VACCINE THEY TRIED THE COLD -- CALL CENTER.

>> SHE SAT ON HOLD FOR 2 AND HALF HOURS, THEY TOLD HER SHE NEEDS TO EMAIL, SHE SENT AN EMAIL, THE EMAIL ALMOST 10 DAYS LATER SAID THEY CANNOT HELP HER AND THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO CALL.

WHAT YOU FIND IS IT IS A FREE FOR ALL.

EVERYBODY IS GOING EVERYWHERE.

>> THEY REFERRED ME TO SOMEONE ELSE, THEY PUT ME ON HOLD, TRANSFER ME, THAT PERSON TOLD ME THE SAME THING, TRANSFER ME AGAIN.

THE THIRD PERSON HUNG UP AFTER TELLING ME WE DO NOT SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS.

>> THE INABILITY OF THE APPARATUS TO HELP ANYBODY OUT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

I AM ONE OF MANY WHO IS JUST REALLY OUTRAGED AND UPSET THAT THIS WASN'T ORGANIZED BETTER IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY LAUNCHED ON J RAY 25th WITH GOOD INTENTIONS TO HELP THOSE WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS OR SAVVY, ESPECIALLY SINGERS TO GET APPOINTMENTS WITH JUST A PHONE CALL.

>> IF THE FOLKS ARE NOT ONLINE AND ACCESSIBLE, THEY ARE HELPING THEM TO GET PREREGISTER.

>> HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BRING UP SOME APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING.

>> THOUSANDS OF CALLS HAVE SWAPPED THE OUTLINE, BUT IT'S 250 AGENTS CANNOT SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL LAST WEEK.

THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER NOTED AGENTS DID MANAGE TO MAKE ABOUT 600 APPOINTMENTS THIS PAST MONDAY.

>> THE CALL CENTER CONTINUES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, HELP INDIVIDUALS REGISTER, AND SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE.

>> I MEDIALLY CALLED AND I GOT A ROBOTIC VOICE.

I THINK IT WAS ASKING ME IF I WANTED TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT.

I PRESSED ONE AND THEN IT SAID, YOU KNOW, ALL AGES ARE BUSY, PLEASE WAIT FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENT.

THEN IT IS CONNECTED ME.

>> A DISAPPOINTED BONNIE SCHOLZ ENDED UP ON FACEBOOK GETTING ADVICE AND LINKS FROM NUMBERS WHO FORMED SUPPORT GROUPS FOR FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS.

THIS IS HOW MANY NOW MANAGED TO FIND OPEN SLOTS AND MORE THAN 200 VACCINATION SITES.

MEANWHILE, THE STATE YESTERDAY ADMITTED THAT IT NEEDS TO RETRAIN AGENTS AND BARRED THEM FROM TAKING APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THEY MAKING MISTAKES.

>> IT ENDED UP WITH THINGS LIKE DOUBLE BOOKING, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT HAVE.

THE TREND WILL BE MOSTLY ON THE OVERALL USE OF THE SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM ITSELF HAS BEEN HAD ISSUES.

WE ARE DIRECTLY SPEAKING WITH MICROSOFT, WHO IS THE VENDOR ALMOST EVERY DAY.

TRYING TO WORK OUT THOSE BUMPS.

>> THIS WEEKS AFTER THE LAUNCH ALMOST A YEAR AND TO THE PANDEMIC, HERE IS CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING LOCAL LAWMAKERS, ASM THE WOMAN READ ONE EMAIL.

>> I SPENT 15 MINUTES WAITING AND SPEAKING TO SOMEONE FROM THE STATE HOTLINE WHO HAD LESS INFORMATION THAN I HAD AN WHO INFORMED ME THE SYSTEMS HAD BEEN DOWN SINCE THURSDAY, LEGISLATORS SUCH AS MYSELF CANNOT EVEN PROVIDE THEM WITH ANY HELP OR GUIDANCE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY.

>> MURPHY GETS THE FENCE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT IT AND THE THING IS WHEN UP 3-4 WEEKS.

>> WE WERE TOLD PEOPLE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU WITH REGISTRATION AND TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT WHAT IT IS.

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A HURDLE, IT IS SLOWING THINGS DOWN.

>> SLOWING DOWN THE MISSION TO GET NEW JERSEY VACCINATED.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> A LOT OF HEALTH LEADERS ARE HOPING A NEW PHARMACY PARTITION WILL HELP.

THIS MORNING CBS OPENED UP VACCINE APPOINTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE UP EARLY.

BY 8:30 AM ANY ATTEMPT TO SECURE A SLOT WAS LOCKED AND EVERY PARTICIPATING PHARMACY FULLY BOOKED.

20 CVS AND 70 WRITING PHARMACIES ARE PART OF A FEDERAL PROGRAM ADDING 27,000 DOSES ON TOP OF THE STATES REGULAR THE SHIPMENT.

THERE IS NO PREREGISTRATION, YOU HAVE TO TRY YOUR LUCK THROUGH AN APP, THE WEBSITE, OR CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE.

THE OPTION DOES INCH THE STATE CLOSER TOWARD IMMUNIZING NEARLY 5 MILLION ELIGIBLE ADULTS.

OUR HEALTHCARE WRITER HAS MORE ON WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> Reporter: GET US UP TO SPEED, HOW MANY DIFFERENT PHARMACIES ARE PARTICIPATING NOW AND GETTING SHIPMENTS OF THIS VACCINE?

>> WHEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCED THIS YESTERDAY THEY SAID THAT IT WAS ABOUT 20 OF THE CVS AND 70 OF THE RITE AIDE PHARMACIES.

I THINK IT IS CLOSER TO 30 CVS.

IT APPEARS OR IT IS NOT CLEAR IF IT WILL BE AT CERTAIN PHARMACIES.

WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE LOCATIONS OF WHERE THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING.

IT MIGHT BE ON A ROTATING BASIS.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SIGN UP THROUGH THE SITE, BUT AS WE KNOW, THOSE ARE ALREADY BOOKED.

THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THESE TWO PHARMACIES ARE A PART OF A FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP.

RITE AID IS A PART OF WALGREENS, THEY ARE IN A FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP IN WHICH THEY ARE GETTING DOSES SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THEM.

THEY ARE NOT SORT OF COMPETING WITH THE STATES OTHER 200+-250 SITES THAT ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY SHARING ALLOCATIONS.

THIS IS 27,000 DOSES ON TOP OF THAT.

>> Reporter: HOW MUCH DOES IT HELP OUR OVERALL JOB AND GOAL HERE AS THE GOVERNOR WOULD SAY OF VACCINATING PEOPLE?

WE HAVE ALL OF THESE DISTRIBUTION POINTS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE SUPPLY IS SO LOW.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY THE GOVERNOR HINTED AT YESTERDAY, THE GATEKEEPER, I THINK HE CALLED IT, WASN'T THE NUMBER OF SITES, IT WAS THE NUMBER OF VACCINES FLOWING INTO THE SYSTEM.

THE STATE IS GETTING, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE NOW.

I THINK 6000 MORE DOSES THIS WEEK THAN THEY DID LAST WEEK.

STILL, IT IS 100 SOMETHING THOUSAND FIRST DOSES AND LESS SECOND DOSES.

IT IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN.

EVERY REPORTER NOW IS PROBABLY GETTING EMAILS DAILY FROM NUMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE REALLY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THIS.

THERE IS CLEARLY FAR MORE DEMAND THAN SUPPLY.

>> IS THERE ANY INDICATION RIGHT NOW THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE A BETTER CHANCE SCHEDULING THROUGH ONE OF THOSE PHARMACY WEBSITES THEN THROUGH A STATE OR COUNTY LOCATION?

>> I JUST DO NOT KNOW.

THE IMPRESSION WE GOT WAS IT WOULD START NEXT WEEK, BUT CLEARLY THE SIGN UP ALREADY STARTED.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO THINK THESE COMPANIES HAVE DONE THIS IN OTHER STATES.

HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS.

I WISH THAT I HAVE SOMETHING MORE POSITIVE TO TELL PEOPLE THAN JUST KEEP TRYING.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE KEEPS SAYING HAVE PATIENCE.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE BEST MESSAGE WE HAVE TO SHARE RIGHT NOW.

>> TENACITY, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC AND THE SNOW HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED WITH REMOTE ONLY LEARNING TODAY, EVEN AS THE AVERAGE WEEKLY CASELOAD OF NEW POSITIVE INFECTION SHOW SIGNS OF PROGRESS.

ANOTHER ROUGHLY 3000 CONFIRMED CASES REPORTED TODAY, 79 MORE LIVES LOST.

THE CDC IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE GUIDELINES ON FRIDAY, LAYING OUT A ROADMAP FOR SAFELY BRINGING OUR KIDS BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.

A HANDFUL OF THE STATES LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THAT DECISION.

PATTERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE LATEST TO ANNOUNCE ALL 28,000 STUDENTS WILL STAY HOME UNTIL MAY 3.

TRENTON, NEWARK, AND JERSEY CITY ARE AMONG OTHER URBAN DISTRICTS KEEPING KIDS REMOTE UNTIL THE SPRING.

THE THREAT IS STILL HITTING BLACK AND BROWN COMMITTEES HARDER THAN THE OTHER.

PATTERSON DISTRICT LEADERS SAY THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION RATE IN THEIR CITY IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

>>> BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IT WAS A DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS ON OUR HANDS.

NEW JERSEY AND THE NATION ARE IN THE GRIPS OF A RAGING OPIOID EPIDEMIC WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST TO DRUG OVERDOSE.

NEW STUDY SHOW THAT ADDICTION DID NOT DISAPPEAR, INSTEAD OPIOID USE AND DEATHS RELATED TO IT ARE STEADILY CLIMBING, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR VULNERABLE SITUATION.

FACTORS LIKE ISOLATION, JOB LOSS, AND INCREASED ANXIETY ARE NOT THE ONLY REASONS.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 90,000 PEOPLE DIED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE IN 2020.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY NEARLY 3000 WERE BECAUSE OF OPIOIDS ALONE.

ACCORDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MANY EXPERTS HAVE POINTED TO THE PANDEMIC AS THE CAUSE.

>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR ACTIVE ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS IS THE FACT THAT THEY SEEM TO BE IN ISOLATION.

BEING IN ISOLATION IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY AN ADDICT OR ALCOHOLIC WILL TURN TO A MOOD ALTERING SUBSTANCE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER ABOUT BEING ALONE.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

WE ARE ISOLATED.

>> Reporter: MAY 2020 THE US HIT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF DEATHS EVER RECORDED IN 12 MONTHS, WHICH MEANS THE SPIKE HAD STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC THAT IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID FENTANYL, A PAIN RELIEVER 50 TIMES -100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE OR HEROIN AND MAKING ITS WAY INTO DRUGS STRUGGLED INTO THE US.

>> A HIGH PERCENTAGE IN NEW JERSEY AS WELL AS NATIONWIDE HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESIDENTS OF FENTANYL.

IT IS ALSO BEEN FOUND IN COCAINE, EITHER THE COCAINE IS CONTAMINATED WITH FENTANYL OR USERS ARE TAKING COCAINE AS WELL AS FENTANYL.

>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM IS LARGELY AMONG YOUNG ADULTS.

FENTANYL SO STRONG THAT SOMEONE OVERDOSING MAY NOT RESPOND TO THE LIFE-SAVING DRUG NARCAN THAT CAN SAVE A LIFE DURING A HEROIN OVERDOSE.

WHAT'S WORSE, WHILE IN ISOLATION MANY ARE AFRAID TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.

>> WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE STRIPPING ACCESS TO CARE.

PEOPLE ARE NOT ACCESSING HOSPITALS AS THEY USED TO.

PEOPLE ARE DETOXING AT HOME.

PEOPLE ARE OVERDOSING AT HOME BY THEMSELVES.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO ACCESS TREATMENT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, VERY REAL FEARS THAT COME WITH COVID.

>> Reporter: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MADE IT EASIER FOR PHYSICIANS WHO WANT TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATION ASSISTANT TREATMENT TO THESE PATIENTS BY ELIMINATING THE X WAIVER, A LICENSE PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED.

>> IN THE PANDEMIC WE SAW THAT A LOT OF THESE RESTRICTIONS WERE PUT INTO PLACE TO PROTECT CLIENTS WERE ACTUALLY HINDERING THEM AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONTINUING THESE PRESCRIPTIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, IF A CLIENT CANNOT COME ON-SITE TO BE IN- PERSON MONITORED BY A PRESCRIBER, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT MEAN THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS.

>> Reporter: GETTING IN-PERSON TREATMENT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE, EVEN THE PLACES LIKE CARE PLUS ARE OFFERING APPOINTMENTS, BUT HELP IS AVAILABLE.

>> SO NOW WE HAVE TO REACH ONLINE FOR THAT SUPPORT.

SOMETIMES THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

WHAT I CAN URGE ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS TO DO IS AGAIN TO REACH OUT.

THERE ARE MANY MORE MEETINGS IN NEW JERSEY THAT HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE, BUT IF YOU DO SOME SENT -- SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCHES YOU ARE ABLE TO FIND VIRTUAL MEETINGS HAPPENING 24 HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> THE BURGEONING FIELD OF TELEHEALTH HAS MADE IT EASIER BY ELIMINATING STIGMA AND CHALLENGES LIKE TRANSPORTATION.

>> IN MANY CASES THAT HAS INCREASE PEOPLE'S USE OF SERVICES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO HAPPY -- HAD BEEN RECEIVING SERVICES HAD BEEN MORE CONSISTENT IN EATING APPOINTMENTS, MUCH LOWER NO- SHOW RATES.

>> Reporter: MANY HOTLINES ARE LISTED UNDER THE DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES.

GROUPS LIKE AA AND NA HAVE BEEN HOLDING MEETINGS OUTDOORS.

>>> MARKETS ARE REELING WITH A COVID RELIEF PACKAGE IN THE BALANCE.

THOSE MONTHLY JOBLESS REPORTS ARE ONLY TELLING ONE PART OF THE STORY.

>> Reporter: UNEMPLOYED WORKERS RECEIVING BENEFITS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SEE THOSE BENEFITS EXPIRE A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH FROM TODAY UNLESS CONGRESS PASSES THE LATEST COVID RELIEF BILL.

TODAY HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAID THAT SHE EXPECTS THE BILL WILL BE SIGNED INTO LAW BEFORE THE CURRENT BENEFITS EXPIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.

SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, WORKERS WOULD RECEIVE ADDED BENEFITS THROUGH AUGUST.

THERE IS NOT MUCH IMPROVEMENT IN THE WEEKLY CLAIMS NUMBERS, NATIONALLY ANOTHER 793,000 AMERICANS HAD TO FILE FOR FIRST- TIME JOBLESS CLAIMS IN THE LATEST WEEK.

THAT WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S MONTHLY REVENUE REPORTS ARE SHOWING SOME INTERESTING TRENDS.

THE BIG REVENUE DRIVERS FOR THE STATE OUR TAXES ON INCOME SALES AND BUSINESSES.

WE LOOKED AT GROWING TAX RECEIPTS FROM OTHER SOURCES.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THIS PANDEMIC IS SOME OF THE TAX REVENUE SOURCES THAT ARE MAYBE A LITTLE LOWER DOWN ON THESE MONTHLY REPORTS.

THEY SHOW SOME BIG RECEIPTS AMONG THEM ARE THE TAX LEVIED ON ALCOHOL SALES AND HOME SALES .

>> THE REALTY TRANSFER TAX RECEIPTS WERE UP BY 11% THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER.

RECEIPTS ON ALCOHOL SALES WERE UP 30%.

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE STORY ON NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS AWARDED $67 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS.

BEYOND THE STADIUM REFURBISHMENT PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A CULTURAL FACILITY WITH A MUSEUM DEDICATED TOLEAGUE BASEBALL, A RESTAURANT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS.

NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRADING DAY ON WALL STREET.

THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> THIS WEEKEND JOIN RHONDA FOR NJ BUSINESS FEE.

ATLANTIC CITY WAS JUST GETTING ON HIS FEET BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS HIT.

WHERE DOES IT STAND OUT?

RHONDA TAKES A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THE SEASIDE TOWN AND REBOUND IN 2021.

WATCH HER SHOW ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM.

>>> MORE SNOW IN THE FORECAST.

WE HAVE STOPPED COUNTING HOW MANY ROUNDS WE ARE UP TO, AS MUCH OF 7 INCHES FELL IN PARTS OF SOUTH JERSEY.

THE BIGGEST SNOWFALL OF THE YEAR, UP TO FOUR IN CENTRAL JERSEY.

EVERYWHERE ELSE JUST ABOUT 1-TO INCHES.

MOST OF US HAVE GOTTEN MORE USE OUT OF OUR SHOVELS AND SNOWBLOWERS THIS WINTER THAT WE HAVE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

FORECASTERS SAY WE ARE STUCK IN AN ACTIVE PATTERN, KICKING UP A STRING OF WINTER STORMS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IS THIS OUR NEW NORMAL AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF MILD WINTER WEATHER?

WE ASK THE EXPERT, DAVE ROBINSON.

>> WE LOVE TO COMPLAIN WE DON'T GET SNOW, WE LOVE TO COMPLAIN WILL BE GET TOO MUCH SNOW IN THE WINTER, WHAT IS TRIGGERING THIS?

I THINK FOR A LOT OF US WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK SEVERAL YEARS TO REMEMBER THIS MUCH ACCUMULATION.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, TOO THOUSAND 16 WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A REALLY BIG SNOWSTORM ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS WINTER, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WERE AND WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

WE HAD ONE SNOWSTORM IN MID- DECEMBER.

IT WAS ABOUT A BORING OF JANUARY AS YOU CAN GET, UNTIL THE LAST 12 HOURS OF THE MONTH.

THE BIG STORM CAME IN FOR FEBRUARY 1, SECOND, AND INTO THE THIRD.

SUBSEQUENTLY, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS.

THAT IS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH SNOW.

IT IS NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED DURING WINTER.

LAST WINTER IT WAS NOT DISTRIBUTED AT ALL.

WE HAD THE THIRD LEASE SNOWY WINTER ON RECORD IN NEW JERSEY LAST YEAR.

THAT IS A RECORD THAT GOES BACK TO THE WINTER OF 1895.

IN SOUTH JERSEY IT WAS THE LEAST SNOWY IS WINTER ON RECORD.

>> HOW LONG SHOULD WE EXPECT TO STAY IN THIS WEATHER PATTERN?

>> A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

THERE ARE SIGNS TODAY OF CHANGES DOWN THE ROAD, A WEEK OR TWO FROM NOW WHERE THERE MIGHT BE WHAT WE CALL A PATTERN SHIFT.

THAT WOULD BRING WARMER AIR AND PERHAPS RAIN UP INTO NEW JERSEY.

WITHIN I MIGHT ADD REAL CONCERNS FOR FLOODING IF THIS HAPPENS TO QUICKLY.

>> ARE WE WRONG TO CONCLUDE THAT RISING TEMPERATURES MAY BE IN THE ARCTIC PLAY INTO THIS?

WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT CLIMATE WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE JETSTREAM'S CHANGING.

WE WRONG TO POINT THEIR?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF INTERESTING ASPECTS.

ONE THAT I'VE BEEN COMMENTING ON A BIT LATELY IS THE FACT THAT IT IS STILL COLD ENOUGH TO SNOW.

IT IS SNOWING AT TEMPERATURES CLOSER TO FREEZING.

WITH THAT YOU CAN INTRODUCE MORE MOISTURE INTO THE STORM.

AGAIN, THE POINT IS IT IS STILL COLD ENOUGH TO SNOW, BUT WE ARE GETTING MORE MOISTURE.

WE MIGHT BE GETTING BIGGER SNOWSTORMS.

NOW, OTHER TIMES IT IS JUST TOO WARM AND IT IS RAINING.

THAT IS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.

WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING RESEARCH ON THAT RIGHT NOW AND COLLEAGUES AROUND THE WORLD ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

AS IT WARMS, AREAS TO THE NORTH MAKE IT SNOWY OR, AT LEAST UNTIL THEY WARM UP TO A LARGER EXTENT.

AREAS TO THE SOUTH OF NEW JERSEY SHOULD START SEEING, IN SOME CASES THEY ARE SEEING LESS SNOW.

IT IS ALL THAT MAGIC FREEZING MARK, IF YOU ARE BELOW FREEZING YOU HAVE THE CHANCE OF SNOW.

ONCE ABOVE, THAT IS IT.

>> THE MAGIC FREEZING MARK, WE WILL REMEMBER THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS ALWAYS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> ADDING TO THE STRESS OF A PANDEMIC EXPECTED MOMS WAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD GET A COVID VACCINE.

PREGNANT WOMEN ARE CONSIDERED TO BE AT HIGH RISK IF THEY CAN TRACK THE CORONAVIRUS, BUT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN CLINICAL TRIALS FOR ANY OF THE VACCINES CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.

IS IT SAFE?

THERE ISN'T ONE CLEAR ANSWER.

>> I WOULD JUST NEVER THINK THAT ALMOST A YEAR LATER IT WAS STILL BE IN THE SAME SITUATION, STILL IN THE SAME BOAT.

>> AS IS COMING TO THE REALITY OF A PANDEMIC ISN'T ENOUGH THIS WOMAN NOW FACES A TOUGH DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO GET THE COVID VACCINE WHILE PREGNANT WITH HER SECOND BABY.

>> INITIALLY I KNEW THERE WASN'T TOO MUCH RESEARCH ON PREGNANCY AND GETTING THE VACCINATION.

I JUST WAS UNSURE BASICALLY.

THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.

I WAS UNSURE OF WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD GET A RIGHT NOW OR IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DO WHILE I WAS PREGNANT OR WAIT UNTIL AFTER.

I KIND OF WANTED TO HEAR A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BEING PREGNANT AND GETTING THE VACCINATION BEFORE I MADE THAT FINAL DECISION.

>> THE CDC DOES NOT ADVISE ONE WHERE IS ANOTHER BUT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THEIR SITE TO ASSIST WITH DECISION-MAKING.

A SIMILAR TACTIC TAKEN BY THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

>> EXPERTS TO LEAVE THAT THE MRNA VACCINES ARE UNLIKELY TO POSE A RISK TO PREGNANT WOMEN OR THEIR FETUS.

HOWEVER, THE POTENTIAL RISK OF VACCINES TO THE PREGNANT PERSON AND THE FETUS ARE UNKNOWN, BECAUSE THESE VACCINES REALLY HAVE NOT BEEN STUDIED IN PREGNANT WOMEN.

>> AND REALLY GET THE CASE THAT MANY DRUGS ARE NEVER STUDY FORMALLY IN PREGNANCY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY HELPFUL TO US IN THINKING ABOUT THIS VACCINE IS IT DOESN'T CONTAIN A LIVE VIRUS.

WHAT WE USUALLY ENDED UP DOING IS OBSERVING WOMEN OVER TIME AS THEY ARE EXPOSED TO THE MEDICATION.

HONESTLY WE DO NOT HAVE THAT LUXURY WITH THE TWO NEW VACCINES, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OVER 10,000 WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE AND HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDICAL QUALITY.

HE SAYS WHILE THERE IS LITTLE DATA ON THE EFFECT OF THE VACCINE ON UNBORN BABIES, THERE ARE SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS.

>> EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN WOMEN WHO ARE VACCINATED AND HAVE HAD COVID CAN HAVE ANTIBODIES IN THEIR BREAST MILK, IT IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS PASSIVE AMENITY IN NEWBORNS.

THEREFORE, I AM NOT ADVOCATING VACCINATION AND BREAST-FEEDING AS A WAY TO PROTECT THE NEWBORN, BUT THERE IS AT LEAST THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME BENEFIT FROM VACCINATION AND PASSIVE IMMUNITY PASSING TO THE BREASTMILK.

>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS WE DO KNOW THAT PREGNANT PATIENTS WHO GET COVID AND BECOME SICK FROM IT ACTUALLY HAVE MUCH MORE SEVERE ILLNESS THAN THE NONPREGNANT PATIENT.

A HIGH-RISK FOR PRETERM BIRTH, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE BABY.

FOR MOM THERE IS A HIGH-RISK OF ICU ADMISSION, BEING PLACED ON A VENTILATOR, AND EVEN RISK OF DEATH.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE THE HEALTH RISKS OF CONTRACTING THE VIRUS WHILE PREGNANT OR HIGHER THIS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF OB/GYN AND WOMEN'S HEALTH FOR ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM STRONGLY ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO GO DISCUSS THE RISK-BENEFIT RATIO WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROVIDERS.

>> IT IS A REALLY TOUGH DECISION.

I WISH WE HAD THE DATA AND I CAN TELL YOU GO DO IT.

GO GET IT.

WE KNOW IT SAFE.

UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA.

I DO THINK YOU HAVE TO WEIGH YOUR RISK.

WE ARE LEFT WITH THE SCIENCE AND THE EXPERTS.

WE REALLY NEED TO EMPOWER WOMEN , WHATEVER CHOICE THEY MAKE, WE WILL SUPPORT.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT IS IMPORTANT WITH ME BEING IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO GET THE VACCINATION PRIOR TO COMING BACK, JUST LIKE GETTING THE FLU SHOT EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I TRY TO DO AS WELL.

>> Reporter: WHILE SHE SAID SHE HAS DECIDED NOT TO GET THE VACCINE SHE IS DETERMINED TO TRY TO GET IT BEFORE SHE RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN DIVE DEEPER INTO THIS WEEK STORIES ON REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE LIVE TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

DAVID TALKS OUR PANEL OF STATEHOUSE REPORTERS AND CHAIR OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ABOUT SCHOOL REOPENING AND THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI, FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> NJ INSURANCE GROUP SERVING NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND VERIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>> THE WORLD LIES ENTIRELY ON GREEN ENERGY.

LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF ATLANTIC CITY, THE OCEAN WHEN PROJECT WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY- CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.