New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday defended the requirements for vaccination for coronavirus vaccines and told CNBC that it is necessary to prioritize people who already have medical conditions, including smokers.
In an interview on ‘Squawk Box’, Murphy explained that the state is focusing on using its available vaccine supply in two different groups. The first, according to him, are those needed to help defeat a virus, such as health care workers and first responders. The second is individuals who are at higher risk for serious illness or death if they contract Covid, he said.
“It’s no speculation. It’s based on the data, on the facts. Who got sick? Who was admitted to the hospital? Who did we lose?” Murphy said.
The second group includes residents of New Jersey who are 65 years and older, as well as those ages 16-64 who have a qualifying medical condition, which includes cancer, chronic kidney disease, various heart diseases and smoking.
Teachers in New Jersey are not yet eligible as a whole group, but Murphy has come under increasing pressure to allow school district educators and employees to qualify for the vaccine. Lawyers believe that it is important that they get the life-saving shot in order to keep class safer.
“It’s a fake choice to compare smokers to someone else,” Murphy told CNBC. “Everyone under the age of 65 who is most vulnerable, even if you are an essential worker, an educator, you are eligible.”
New Jersey’s list of medical conditions that someone may be eligible for the vaccine closely follows a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conditions that increase a person’s risk of developing serious cases of Covid.
Teachers as a group are ‘in the circle on the deck’, Murphy said, using baseball phrase to describe being next to the bat. “I hope we get to educators sooner rather than later.”
Some states, such as Maryland, Illinois, and Arizona, have eligible teachers, according to EdWeek, a news organization covering K-12 education.
As of Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey has administered approximately 1.1 million doses of vaccine, according to information compiled by the CDC. CDC data show that the U.S. administered a total of 43.2 million doses.
While Murphy expressed optimism about the Biden administration’s vaccination efforts, he said New Jersey is seeing more demand for the shots than is currently available.
“You have a huge imbalance between supply and demand,” he said. But he added: “The Biden team are doing exceptional work and I am confident they will deliver the stock. It will not be overnight but we will get it.”