After the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced radical changes to the launch of the COVID vaccine in the country on January 12, governors took action to implement the desired corrections at the state level. States are free to interpret HHS suggestions for implementation as they see fit. More recently, New Jersey opened vaccination for residents over 65 and anyone aged 16 or over with underlying diseases. This expansion is in line with many other vaccination programs in the state, but the Gov. Phil Murphy he had to defend his choice to add smokers to the list of people who have a condition that guarantees them access to priority vaccination. This means that New Jersey will vaccinate smokers before essential workers. Read on to learn more about vaccine distribution in this state and for more vaccine news, If you take these OTC drugs, you will need to stop before getting the vaccine.
On January 13, Murphy announced the addition of two new categories of residents who will be eligible to receive a COVID vaccine on January 14. The update includes elderly people and everyone aged 16 or over “with certain medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which increase the risk of serious illnesses caused by the virus.”
The state targets people who have had the most serious reactions to COVID. “Expanding access to the vaccine to individuals in these categories is critical, as we know that they are at an increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease and death,” New Jersey Commissioner of Health Judith Persichilli added in the declaration. “Eighty percent of COVID-19 deaths in New Jersey occurred among people aged 65 and over, and overall, 67 percent of deaths had one or more underlying diseases reported. And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
According to Murphy’s statement, conditions that qualify for vaccination in New Jersey during this phase include “cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], Down syndrome, heart problems, obesity and severe obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus. “
In addition, those who are pregnant or immunocompromised due to an organ transplant are also eligible for a vaccine now. However, the statement advised people in these positions to follow the CDC’s guidelines and discuss vaccination with their personal provider before they sit down for the injection. And to learn more about the complications of the vaccine, Dr. Fauci has just warned about the side effects of the COVID vaccine.
New Jersey expanded priority vaccination to include first responders such as police and firefighters on January 6. However, Murphy failed to vaccinate other essential employees, including teachers, restaurant workers and grocery workers. Now, smokers will be vaccinated before these workers.
During Murphy and Persichilli’s press conference, they defended their decision to include smokers. “Smoking puts you at significant risk of an adverse COVID-19 outcome, and there are 2 million smokers in New Jersey that fall into these categories,” said Persichilli during the January 13 briefing. And for more urgent information about vaccines, find out the only 2 people who shouldn’t get the COVID vaccine, says the FDA official.
The newer vaccination groups are joining previous people in Phase 1A who were already eligible for the injection. New Jersey has vaccinated health professionals, residents and employees of long-term care facilities and first responders. Surprisingly, Persichilli said, “No documentation of the medical condition or age will be required” at the time of vaccination. And to learn more about the future of the pandemic, Moderna’s CEO has just made this frightening prediction about COVID.