States in the northeastern part of the country joined with New Jersey at the start of the pandemic to fight COVID-19. But some of the states have begun to pull away, loosening restrictions sooner than others or widening eligibility for vaccines.

Connecticut, New Jersey and New York each have different minimums ages for the COVID vaccine. In Connecticut it is 55, New York is 60 and New Jersey has an age restriction of 65 and above. These differences seem to reveal competing strategies in the fight against the virus.

“New Jersey seems to be focusing on people who are high-risk for hospitalization and death,” says Montclair State University epidemiologist Dr. Stephanie Silvera.

Silvera says that New York is more focused on workers who are likely to be exposed to the virus, with the hope of reducing cases. She says that she is not sure which is better.

But even as Gov. Phil Murphy is set to expand vaccine eligibility throughout the month, there is one thing that is keeping frustrations surrounding the vaccine high – the appointment system.

Silvera says that she has heard frustrations from people that their older relatives cannot get the vaccine, while younger people have been able to book appointments.

“You know, ‘I have a family member who’s over 70. They still haven’t been able to get an appointment. Now there are people who are younger who are less likely to have severe outcomes getting the vaccine first,’” she says.

When the COVID-19 lockdown began, the governors of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey formed a regional reopening task force, but have now gone their own ways.

Connecticut is set to eliminate capacity limits in restaurants, while New York State is moving to 75% capacity. New Jersey still stands at 35% capacity.

New data from the COVID States Project shows that people are going in to work more, heading back to the gym and even socializing again.

“The most recent survey, which was just completed at the end of February. It looks like people are being more relaxed again - that they're being less careful,” says Rutgers University professor Katherine Ognyanova.

This comes as infection rates decline and vaccines become more available. Another jump in the vaccine supply is just a few weeks away. Health experts say that herd immunity is a few months away. But researchers do say that they are concerned about the COVID variants.

Dr. Silvera says that when it comes to executive order decisions there are three factors: health, economics and politics. She says that politics seem to bleed into the other two.