Have you smoked 100 cigarettes in your life? Can you take one shot a day for the next two weeks? Are you able to look into the eyes of a health professional and lie? I do not accept these things, but if any of the above apply to you and you are a resident of North Carolina, you may be eligible for your covid-19 vaccine later this month.
Today, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that on March 24, the state will begin to open eligibility for the vaccine to group 4, a large strip that includes people living in group settings, additional front-line workers, and people 16 to 64 years of age with medical conditions that put them at higher risk, including asthma, cancer, and “smoking,” which is defined as having smoked 100 cigarettes in a lifetime. Five packages over a lifetime.
Designated by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Group 4 medical conditions that pose a higher risk of severe covid-19 disease, as advised by the CDC:
- Asthma (moderate to severe)
- Cancer
- Cerebrovascular disease or a history of stroke
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Dementia or other neurological condition
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes
- Down syndrome
- Heart disease such as heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy
- Hypertension or hypertension
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) of: immune deficiencies, HIV, taking chronic steroids or other drugs to weaken immunity, history of solid organ or bone marrow blood transplant
- Liver disease, including hepatitis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Overweight or obesity
- Pregnancy
- Sickle disease (not including the sickle feature) or thalassemia
- Smoking (current or previous, defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in life)
Social smokers and trap cigs included.
The governor’s office was not immediately available to comment on whether doctors will use the honor system or whether it has vapors, but does it matter? This may force some people to, for example, revisit the file CDC finding that smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide and for Google permanently lung damage (it’s not good). And then maybe check some out state health resources.
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From tomorrow the state will do it begin to expand eligibility for Group 3, who, through no fault of their own, are essential front-line workers. These include people working in daycare centers, grocery stores, manufacturing, food production, transportation, health care, public safety, and government services.
You (me, ahhhckkk-heeehh-ahem) might feel a little less terrible with President Biden announcement Today, the United States may have enough supply available to vaccinate all American adults through May, advancing the timeline from July. So maybe you just have to put up with these Marlboros.