NJ governor calls criticism that smokers are vaccinated against others a ‘false narrative’

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy spoke out during a coronavirus briefing on Friday against the “false story” that smokers receive the COVID-19 vaccine from other essential workers.

As NJ Advanced Media reports, the Garden State has expanded its vaccination program to also include 2 million smokers between the ages of 16 and 64. The expansion has allowed people in that age group with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, advanced kidney failure and more. The expansion enables about 4.47 million people, about half of the state’s population, to be vaccinated.

Some people have criticized the move and believe that smokers are prioritized over teachers. CBS New York reports that Teach NJ, a part of the Teach Coalition that ‘pleads[s] for equitable government funding for the non-public schools in New Jersey, ‘called on teachers to stand up for smokers.

Murphy responded to the allegations at a press conference and a thread on Twitter. He said accusations that smokers were jumping on the bandwagon were a misleading ‘cheap opportunity’.

“I have to fall back on a false narrative that in some circles prevents us from vaccinating smokers while we are not vaccinating another group, whether it is our blessing from heroic educators or other incredibly important and heroic essential workers,” he said. . .

In the briefing, Murphy said that about 100,000 doses of the vaccine are brought to the state each week and that the vaccine is a priority to high-risk residents, and that the decision is in line with CDC guidance.

“We can not lose sight of a critical medical fact. It is a respiratory virus. Our goal from day one was to fight to save every possible life and make our decisions based on the facts,” “It’s a simple fact, whether we like it or not, that smoking, like other chronic and medical conditions, poses a greater risk of a more serious case of COVID,” he said.

He also noted that providing vaccines to those at risk is trying to avoid people being admitted to hospital as coronavirus is a respiratory disease.

“I understand the optics here and that offensive people who use the habit of smoking and who are now addicted can be politically useful. But at the moment we are trapped in a position where we have to prioritize limited federal production. “or the least distributed doses of vaccinations based on medical facts and not on political shortcomings. We must save lives and we must protect our hospitals in the meantime against a surge of the patient,” he said.

Murphy also noted that teachers are included in the extensive eligibility for the vaccine, as well as transit workers, grocery stores and other front-line workers.

As previously reported, nationwide deployment of the COVID vaccine has been criticized and is considered “extremely weak” with a few exceptions. Elected President Joe Biden has promised to distribute 100 million shots within his first 100 days.

Newsweek reached out to the governor’s office for comment.