In New Jersey and Mississippi, smokers can now be vaccinated
New Jersey has just expanded its distribution of coronavirus vaccines this week and announced that anyone 65 or older can now get the shots, as well as those between the ages of 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 conditions where ‘smoking’ is listed as one of the ‘conditions’, and many find the move controversial.
The CDC’s Immunization Practices Advisory Committee recommends that smokers be vaccinated in phase 1c, but according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, New Jersey and Mississippi are vaccinating the group because a ‘smoker of all ages’ is on their list to to have an underlying medical. 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 one of the conditions mentioned is, and that smokers are now continuing the vaccine’s priority line in front of some essential workers – including teachers, which is highly controversial. Other states do plan to include smokers in the level that allows individuals between the ages of 16-64 to get the vaccine, but only New Jersey and Mississippi do so now – as every other state still only vaccinates health workers and the elderly. .
Let me get it right @GovMurphy the people who are trying to do the healthy thing and more importantly, our TEACHERS are being pushed behind the line for smokers, which is a mess NJ .1 Healthcare, 2 first responders, 3 teachers 4. 65 and older then you can make your own rules at https://t.co/mQkK8AtDFY
– Nicky “Blue” Fiorentino (@BlueFiorentino) 16 January 2021
“Smoking puts you at significant risk for and adverse effects of covid-19,” New Jersey State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli told a news conference Wednesday that she defended the decision.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the changes Wednesday as the state catches up on vaccinations that fail to meet the immunization goals. According to Thursday, at least 263,422 first doses were administered in New Jersey, covering 7.5 percent of the beneficiary population. Washington Post.
Some argue that smokers prefer to put themselves at higher risk, and many others who are at high risk due to exposure, such as teachers, should be prioritized. Others believe that smoking is an addiction and that smokers may be at higher risk for serious diseases if they do test positive for COVID-19, if they consider COVID’s assault on the lungs.
Help at the Rowan Medicine Covid Vaccination Center!
NJ has now opened vaccinations for anyone over the age of 65 and 16-64 with health conditions including heart, lung, kidney, diabetes and smokers.
You can register for an appointment here at our clinic: https: //t.co/Hp4jZw59Fp pic.twitter.com/XJGlsqjI6C– KlicKlac (@KlicKlac_) 14 January 2021
“There’s a very steep and judiciously slippery slope when we start saying that one or the other group does not deserve vaccines based on your health behaviors, especially when we understand that smoking is a drug use disorder,” Esther Choo said. an emergency physician and professor at Oregon Health and Science University, tells The Washington Post.
Other states, however, followed a different approach. The times reported that New Mexico and Texas people with other high-risk medical conditions are eligible for the vaccine, but not smokers. Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina include smokers, but only later.
At the end of the day, this country lags behind in handing out vaccines, and each state can interpret the CDC’s priority schedule as it sees fit, so some argue that the US should only get the shot in as many arms as possible. This is definitely a brave new world.