[ad_1]
New Jersey’s inclusion of smokers among people with medical conditions eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is based on science, not policy, according to Governor Phil Murphy.
The Democratic governor took to Twitter on Friday to respond to criticism of the state’s policy, which allows smokers between the ages of 16 and 64 to get the vaccine before the general population.
“Our first priority must be to vaccinate people at high risk due to age or other health factors that put them at greater vulnerability to severe COVID”, Murphy tweeted. “This is a respiratory virus. Our goal is to save all possible lives through facts and science. Smoking puts someone at a higher risk of more severe cases of COVID. In this, we are agree with @CDCgov’s advice. “
Murphy said he understood how to let smokers get the vaccine before non-smokers seemed to some people.
“I understand the perspective here, and that attacking people who have taken up the habit of smoking and are now addicted can be politically expedient,” he tweeted. “We are stuck in a position where we have to prioritize our limited doses of vaccines based on medical facts and not political desire.
Some public health experts have argued that smoking shouldn’t be a cause of early inoculation, according to the Washington Examiner.
“It wouldn’t be a high priority group,” Eric Topol, cardiologist and founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told the Washington Post. “Just smoking doesn’t turn it off in my opinion.”
Some groups, such as teachers, who did not qualify for priority setting were shocked by the decision.
“A lot of people were blown away by this decision,” said Nick Zaneto, teacher and coach at Metuchen High School. “It is not a medical condition that you smoke. You make the personal choice to vape or smoke cigarettes. [teachers], we try to teach our students to avoid bad habits like smoking, and it almost seems like a reward for these people. “
© 2021 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
[ad_2]
Source link