Pennsylvania put smokers at the top of its list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health added “people aged 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions” to phase 1a vaccine allocation plan. Smoking is listed as a high risk condition.
Health personnel, residents of long-term care facilities and people aged 65 and over are also included in Pennsylvania’s Phase 1a. The state is now in phase 1a of its allocation plan.
A department spokesperson said WTAE-4 in Pittsburgh that “Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommendations and include smoking in the list of medical conditions that put individuals at greatest risk. “
The Pennsylvania Department of Health did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill.
The CDC’s Immunization Practices Advisory Committee currently recommends that those aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 be included in the phase 1c, but states are free to modify their distribution plans at their discretion.
The CDC says that smoking increases risk of serious COVID-19 disease. Smoke weakens the immune system, which decreases the body’s ability to fight disease.
The shift comes as states expand eligibility in a hurry to vaccinate more residents. CNN reported that New Jersey and Mississippi currently offer the vaccine for smokers, and several other states have the next smokers in line.