New Jersey is allowing 2 million smokers across the state to queue for the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a significant expansion of the state’s immunization program that aims to inoculate 70% of the population by June.
People aged 65 and over and people aged 16 to 64 who have underlying medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes or obesity can also receive the injection, Governor Phil Murphy announced earlier this week.
But the move to include smokers raised eyebrows as groups of essential workers, such as teachers and public transport workers, remain ineligible.
“I understand, I understand the optics here, and attacking people who have acquired the habit of smoking and who are now addicted can be politically convenient,” said Murphy during a press conference in Trenton on Friday, citing the need to save so many lives possible. “But at the moment, we are stuck in a position where we have to prioritize limited doses and distributed by the federal government based on medical facts and not on political wishes.”
Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University, said that smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that can enter a person’s lungs, putting them at greater risk of hospitalization or death from the coronavirus. The addictive habit was one of the first risk factors for severe COVID-19 identified by public health researchers in China after the pandemic flourished in early 2020.
“If we want to reduce the number of people hospitalized because it is better for the community, because it is better for health outcomes, then including smokers in that category really makes a lot of sense,” said Silvera. In his expert opinion, smokers should not be stigmatized; they cover all ages and professions, including teachers. She added that smoking rates are highest among men, low-income and uninsured people – all groups that experience the worst health outcomes with COVID-19.
“Taking a moral stance on who deserves to be vaccinated, based on the decisions we make in our lives, if we start using this as a metric for those who deserve to be vaccinated, we begin to walk a very dangerous path,” she said.
Still, some officials are reluctant to prioritize smokers, given the state’s limited supply of vaccines. New Jersey administered more than 310,000 doses, according to its panel. This is slightly less than half the supply the state has received, according to the CDC. Before the state opened its doors to older and more medically vulnerable populations on Thursday, health workers, police and firefighters, and those living in long-term care facilities and prisons were eligible for the shot. It is not yet clear whether vaping qualifies as smoke under the new expansion.
“Other states, like New York, have prioritized educators, and since the government often follows them, why aren’t we doing this here?” Republican Representative Serena DiMaso, who represents Monmouth, said in a statement.
For the time being, New Jersey health officials are not requiring proof of medical documentation for the list of eligible health conditions and have an honor system at more than 160 vaccination sites. All sites require an appointment.
But with more than 4 million qualified people and New Jersey receiving just about 100,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna a week, the biggest problem remains a lack of supplies. Many sites were left without commitments hours after Murphy increased the number of people eligible for the photo.
“The reality is that the system is nowhere to be played at this point,” said Shawna Hudson, professor of family medicine and community health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Anyone living, working or studying in New Jersey can receive a vaccine when they are considered eligible and can register on the state’s website here.