Pennsylvania now allows smokers to get the COVID-19 vaccine first in addition to nurses and doctors because it is a ‘high-risk medical condition’
- Smokers can now get the COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase of the Pennsylvania rollout
- The state added people with ‘high-risk medical conditions’ to the initial stages, including smoking
- The state is currently still in the first phase of the rollout, which also includes healthcare workers, people over the age of 65
- Smokers are now eligible for the vaccine before first responders, correctional officers, teachers, supermarket employees and public transport workers
- Pennsylvania’s decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers
Pennsylvania now allows smokers to line up for COVID-19 vaccinations in addition to nurses, doctors and nursing home residents.
Smokers were eligible for the first doses in the state after the Pennsylvania Department of Health added those with “ high-risk medical conditions ” to the first phase of the vaccine rollout.
Smoking is one of the conditions that are considered high risk.
The state is currently still in the early stages of the rollout, which will include health care workers, those over the age of 65, and those between the ages of 16 and 64 in high-risk conditions.
To date, Pennsylvania has released 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses. Pennsylvania now allows smokers to line up for COVID-19 vaccinations alongside nurses, doctors, and nursing home residents
Other high risk conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, Down’s syndrome, heart disease, obesity and pregnancy.
Under the changes, smokers are now eligible for the vaccine before emergency responders, correctional officers, teachers, supermarket employees and public transportation workers.
To date, Pennsylvania has released 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses.
The state administered 21,000 first doses and 4,400 second doses on Thursday.
The state health department said smokers have now been admitted because they are believed to be at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract COVID-19.
NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS: To date, Pennsylvania has released 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 proportion vaccinated in Pennsylvania so far
“Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the CDC’s recommendations and include smoking in its list of medical conditions that put people at greater risk,” said a spokesman.
To date, no large-scale research has been conducted into how smokers are more affected by COVID.
Pennsylvania’s decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers.
It’s not yet clear how they prove if someone is a smoker when they show up to get the vaccine.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and intensive care physician in Pittsburgh, said smoking is associated with increased severity of the virus and can lead to hospitalizations.
“When people look at a decision about vaccine allocation, it is actually determined by what will keep people out of the hospital,” Dr. Adalja told WTAE-4.
Pennsylvania now allows smokers to line up for COVID-19 vaccinations in addition to nurses, doctors and nursing home residents. Depicted is Government Tom Wolf