New Jersey will give smokers access to the COVID vaccine in front of the general public because they are more likely to become seriously ill, say health officials
- NJ gives smokers of all ages access to COVID-19 vaccine, along with people over 65 and people with underlying health conditions
- It means that 2 million people were pushed in front of the photo line
- It is not clear how the state intends to check whether a person smokes or not
- It does not require non-smokers over the age of 65 – the other eligible category – to prove their eligibility
- Many say it is unfair for New Jersey smokers to have access to the vaccine before teachers
New Jersey gives smokers access to the COVID-19 vaccine in front of the general public because, say its health officials, smokers are more likely to get seriously ill and faster.
There are two million smokers in New Jersey. As of Wednesday, they are now eligible for the vaccine along with people over the age of 65 and people with underlying health conditions.
Health officials defended the decision, saying their data show that smokers get COVID faster than non-smokers.
It is not clear how they will check whether or not a person is a smoker when they show up to receive the vaccine.
To date, no large-scale study has been conducted on how smokers are worst affected by COVID.
In fact, early research indicated that smokers were not adversely affected by COVID – a result that left scientists discouraged.
Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, last week visited a COVID-19 vaccination site in Rockaway. As of Wednesday, smokers have had access to the vaccine in NJ
Outside Morris County Vaccination Site in Rockaway, NJ, Friday, January 8, 2021. Governor Phil Jersey, New Jersey, Visits Morris County Vaccination Site Opening
In a statement defending the decision in New Jersey, Donna Leusner, director of the state’s communications department, said: “Nicotine is one of the strongest addictions.
Smoking puts people at higher risk for more severe diseases. If a person who smokes becomes COVID, he gets sick much faster.
“Smoking poses a significant risk to an adverse outcome of COVID-19 and there are 2 million smokers in New Jersey who fall into these categories,” State Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Tuesday. announced the decision.
Now, 4.75 million in New Jersey are eligible to receive the vaccine.
“The state has received only 500,000 vaccines. To date, it has administered over 123,000.
The NJ Department of Health did not share its data on how COVID-19 affects smokers worse than anyone else.
The decision was met with widespread criticism on social networks
Health officials have defended the decision, saying their data show that smokers get COVID faster than non-smokers.
The CDC has never shared data on how it affects smokers.
The decision to include smokers has outraged many who have said it is not fair to give them access to the vaccine before teachers.
“When will NJ teachers be eligible for the COVID vaccine? We were pushed back in line, behind 2 million smokers “, a critic asked after the announcement.
“So you will all give priority to smokers who clearly do not care about their health, to start receiving the vaccine, because now they are at a higher risk, after knowingly choosing a bad life choice, which would does it pose a higher risk?
“Make it make sense,” said another.
New York Times reporter Mark Mazzetti wrote on Twitter: “My parents in New Jersey are technically eligible for the vaccine today, but the state is also extending its eligibility today to … heavy smokers.
“I hope they’ll be in line before the guy who proves his eligibility by showing a receipt for a box of Winston.”