Pennsylvania now allows smokers to first receive COVID-19 vaccine with nurses and doctors because it is a ‘high risk medical condition’.
- Smokers can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase of Pennsylvania
- The state added those with ‘high-risk medical conditions’ to its initial phase, which includes smoking
- The state is currently in its first phase of implementation, which includes health care staff over the age of 65
- Smokers are now eligible to receive the vaccine before the first reaction, correctional officers, teachers, grocery stores and public transport workers
- Pennsylvania’s decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers
Pennsylvania allows smokers to be at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccinations, along with nurses, doctors and nursing home residents.
Smokers were eligible to receive the doses first in the state after the Pennsylvania Department of Health added those with ‘high-risk medical conditions’ to the first phase of the vaccination.
Smoking is one of the conditions considered high risk.
The state is currently still in the first phase of implementation, which includes health care personnel, those over 65 and those between the ages of 16-64 with high-risk conditions.
So far, Pennsylvania has distributed 643,000 of the 1.3 million doses. Pennsylvania now puts smokers at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccinations with nurses, doctors and nursing home residents
Other high-risk conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, Down syndrome, heart disease, obesity and pregnancy.
Among the changes, smokers are now eligible to receive the vaccine before the first reaction, correctional officers, teachers, grocery stores and public transport workers.
So far, Pennsylvania has distributed 643,000 of the 1.3 million doses.
The state administered 21,000 first doses and 4,400 second doses on Thursday.
The state health department said smokers are now included because they are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract COVID-19.
NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS: So far, Pennsylvania has distributed 643,000 of the 1.3 million doses. The state administered 21,000 first doses and 4,400 second doses on Thursday.
Those in the 55-59 age group are the largest percentage vaccinated so far in Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the CDC’s recommendations and include smoking among the list of medical conditions that put individuals at greater risk,” a spokesman said.
To date, no widespread study has been conducted on how COVID smoke gets worse.
Pennsylvania’s decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers.
It is not yet clear how they prove if anyone is a smoker when they show up to get the vaccine.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and critical physician in Pittsburgh, said smoking is associated with an increased severity of the virus and could lead to hospitalizations.
“When people look at a decision on the allocation of vaccines, it’s really driven by what’s going to keep people out of the hospital,” Dr Adalja told WTAE-4.
Pennsylvania allows smokers to be at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccinations along with nurses, doctors and nursing home residents. Pictured is Governor Tom Wolf