Smoking is on the list of high-risk medical conditions and comorbidities that make someone eligible for the coronavirus vaccine in phase 1B plus Illinois.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, smoking is considered an “eligible condition” at this stage along with other conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, pregnancy and more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “being a current or former cigarette smoker increases the risk of serious COVID-19 disease.”
Illinois entered its Phase 1B Plus on Feb. 25, increasing eligibility to include people with certain underlying conditions and comorbidities. The decision meant that an additional 3.4 million people across Illinois were eligible for the vaccine.
Smoking was not on the list of eligible conditions when the phase was first announced, but was added when the state entered the phase last week.
To see how you can sign up for a COVID vaccine appointment in Illinois, click here.
The list of high-risk medical conditions that were rated, which the state said was subject to change, initially included:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Diabetes
- Heart condition
- Immunocompromised state from a solid organ transplant
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Lung disease
- Sickle cell disease
The extension was applied to those over 16 who were not otherwise covered in previous eligibility categories, the state said. This is in addition to health workers and long-term care facility staff and residents who qualified for Phase 1A of the state deployment, as well as essential front-line workers and 65-year-old residents. or more that were eligible at the beginning of phase 1B.
However, many counties in the Chicago area, including the city itself, have chosen not to expand their eligibility, citing a lack of supply.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 1B Plus phase, including who is and isn’t in the extended phase.