(Newser)
– Teachers in New Jersey are furious about the implementation of vaccination in the state, which gives smokers priority over educators. Now that nearly 300,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered to frontline health professionals, long-term residents, police and firefighters, New Jersey has started offering vaccines to anyone aged 65 or over, anyone with pre-existing illnesses, and – to the ire of teachers – anyone who smokes. “Smoking puts you at significant risk for an adverse COVID-19 outcome,” State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli told NJ.com, which reports that there are 2 million smokers aged 16 to 64 in the state . For some teachers, this seems to reward a bad habit. For them, smoking is optional, but putting your health at risk to return to the classroom is not.
“I think that prioritizing smokers as a group has insulted educators” and “[we’re] somewhat indignant, “Susan McBride, president of the Bergen County Education Association, told NJ.com. She says expanding the implementation on Wednesday was especially painful, as teachers” were led to believe we were imminent in the hierarchy of vaccine recipients. “Anthony Rosamilia, president of the Essex County Education Association, says it’s not just teachers who are upset. The” general public is not happy “that a person’s dangerous habit (read addiction) makes them eligible for a vaccine before someone who chooses not to do so But experts say it is a smart move if the goal is to reduce hospitalizations, and health officials are not backing down. “Our goal is to save as many lives as possible,” he said. a representative from the Department of Health, according to NBC New York. (Read more stories from New Jersey.)