In New Jersey and Mississippi, smokers can be vaccinated now
New Jersey just expanded its coronavirus vaccine distribution this week, announcing that anyone 65 and older can now get the vaccines, as well as those aged 16-64 with certain medical conditions, including being a smoker. Now the state of Jersey joins Mississippi as the only two states currently offering the vaccine to those with underlying health problems, where “smoking” is listed as one of the “conditions”, and many consider the move controversial.
The CDC’s Immunization Practices Advisory Committee advises smokers to be vaccinated in phase 1c, but according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, New Jersey and Mississippi are vaccinating this group now as “being a smoker of any age” counts for their list of having a doctor’s underlying conditions, which also include cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
In New Jersey, The New York Times reports that no documentation of any underlying health condition is needed to prove that someone has any of the listed diseases and smokers now advance the priority vaccination line before some essential workers – including teachers, who many find controversial. Other states plan to include smokers at the level that allows individuals aged 16 to 64 to get the vaccine, but only New Jersey and Mississippi are doing it now – basically, all other states are still vaccinating only health workers and the elderly.
So let me get it right @GovMurphy the people who tried to do healthy and most important things our TEACHERS are being pushed to the end of the line for smokers, what a mess NJ is .1 Healthcare, 2 first respondents, 3 teachers 4. 65 and older that you can create your own rules https://t.co/mQkK8AtDFY
– Nicky “Blue” Fiorentino (@BlueFiorentino) January 16, 2021
“Smoking puts you at significant risk and adverse outcome from covid-19,” New Jersey state health commissioner Judith Persichilli told a news conference on Wednesday, defending the decision.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the changes on Wednesday as the state tries to catch up with vaccinations that have failed to meet immunization targets. As of Thursday, at least 263,422 first doses have been administered in New Jersey, covering 7.5 percent of the prioritized population, according to the Washington Post.
Some argue that smokers are choosing to put themselves at greater risk, and many others who remain at risk due to exposure, such as teachers, should be prioritized. Others feel that smoking is an addiction and that smokers may be at an increased risk of serious illness if the test is positive for COVID-19, considering COVID’s attack on the lungs.
Helping Rowan Medicine Covid Vaccination Center!
NJ now offers vaccines for anyone over 65 and 16-64 with health problems, including heart, lung, kidney, diabetes and smokers.
You can sign up for a consultation at our clinic here: https: //t.co/Hp4jZw59Fp pic.twitter.com/XJGlsqjI6C– KlicKlac (@KlicKlac_) January 14, 2021
“There is a very steep and critical slippery slope when we start to say that one group or another does not deserve vaccines based on their health behavior, especially when we understand that smoking is a substance use disorder,” Esther Choo, emergency doctor and professor from Oregon Health and Science University, said The Washington Post.
Other states, however, have taken a different approach. The times reports that New Mexico and Texas have made people with other high-risk medical conditions eligible for the vaccine, but not smokers. Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina include smokers, but only in later stages.
At the end of the day, this country is lagging behind in the distribution of vaccines and each state can interpret the CDC’s priority schedule as it sees fit, so some are arguing that the US only needs to give this injection in as many weapons as possible. It is certainly a brave new world.