New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy defended the state’s coronavirus vaccine eligibility requirements on Wednesday, telling CNBC that there is a need to prioritize people with pre-existing medical conditions, including smokers.
In an interview with the Squawk Box, Murphy explained that the state is focused on using its vaccine stock available in two distinct groups. The first, he said, are those that are needed “to help defeat the virus”, such as health professionals and first responders. The second is individuals who are most at risk of serious illness or death if they contract Covid, he said.
“This is not speculation. It is based on data, on facts. Who fell ill? Who was hospitalized? Who did we lose?” Murphy said.
In the second group are New Jersey residents aged 65 and over, as well as those aged 16 to 64 who have a qualifying medical condition, which includes cancer, chronic kidney disease, various heart diseases and smoking.
Teachers in New Jersey are not yet eligible as a whole group, but Murphy has faced increasing pressure to allow educators and school district officials to qualify for the vaccine. Supporters believe it is important to receive the life-saving shot to allow face-to-face classes to be held more safely.
“It is a false choice to compare smokers to other people,” Murphy told CNBC. “Anyone under the age of 65 is the most vulnerable, even if you are an essential worker, an educator, you are qualified now.”
The list of New Jersey medical conditions that make someone eligible for the vaccine closely follows the list of conditions at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that increases a person’s risk of developing serious cases of Covid.
Teachers, as a group, are “in the circle on the deck,” said Murphy, using a baseball phrase to describe being close to a bat. “I hope we reach educators sooner or later.”
Some states, such as Maryland, Illinois and Arizona, have extended eligibility to teachers, according to EdWeek, a news organization that covers elementary and high school.
New Jersey administered about 1.1 million doses of the vaccine on Tuesday afternoon, according to data compiled by the CDC. The United States has in general administered 43.2 million doses, CDC data show.
While Murphy expressed optimism about Biden’s administration’s efforts with the vaccine, he said New Jersey is still seeing more demand for vaccines than currently available doses.
“You have a huge imbalance between supply and demand,” he said. But he added: “The Biden team is doing an extraordinary job and I am confident that they will deliver the supply. It will not be overnight, but we will achieve that.”