Pennsylvania now allows smokers to receive COVID-19 vaccine first alongside nurses and doctors as it is a “high-risk medical condition”
- Smokers can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase of the Pennsylvania deployment
- The state added those with “high-risk medical conditions” to its initial phase, which includes smoking
- Currently, the state is still in its first phase of deployment, which includes health personnel, over 65 years
- Smokers are now eligible to receive the vaccine before first aid, correctional officers, teachers, grocery workers and public transportation workers.
- Pennsylvania’s decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers
Pennsylvania now allows smokers to be at the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccine line alongside nurses, doctors and residential residents.
Smokers were eligible to receive doses for the first time in the state after the Pennsylvania Department of Health added those with “high-risk medical conditions” to the first phase of vaccine deployment.
Smoking is among the conditions considered high risk.
Currently, the state is still in its first phase of deployment, which includes health personnel, over 65 years and between 16 and 64 years with high risk conditions.
To date, Pennsylvania has distributed 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses. Pennsylvania allows smokers to be at the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccine line alongside nurses, doctors and residential residents.
Other high-risk conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, Down syndrome, heart disease, obesity, and pregnancy.
Under the changes, smokers can now receive the vaccine before first aiders, correctional officers, teachers, grocery store workers and public transportation workers.
To date, Pennsylvania has distributed 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 are now included because they are considered to be at higher risk for serious illness if they contract COVID-19.
NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS: To date, Pennsylvania has distributed 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses. The state administered 21,000 first doses and 4,400 second doses on Thursday
People 55 to 59 years old are the largest proportion who have been vaccinated to date in Pennsylvania
“Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the CDC’s recommendations and include smoking among the list of medical conditions that put people at risk,” a spokesman said.
To date, no widespread study has been conducted on how smokers are worst affected by COVID.
Pennsylvania’s decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers.
It is not yet clear how they show if someone is a smoker or not if they get the vaccine.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and critical care physician in PIttsburgh, said smoking was associated with increased severity of the virus and could lead to hospitalizations.
“When people look at a vaccine allocation decision, it’s really being driven by what will make it impossible for people to get out of the hospital,” Dr. Adalja told WTAE-4.
Pennsylvania now allows smokers to be at the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccine line alongside nurses, doctors and residential residents. The picture shows Governor Tom Wolf