Great News: New Jersey Is Allowing Smokers To Get The Vaccine First Because They're More Likely To Get Sick From COVID
Source - Officials are scrambling to speed-up COVID-19 vaccinations across the US, but a complicated set of guidelines regarding who should get priority have stymied states' efforts to maximize the number of shots in arms.
In order to accelerate the rollout, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday that states should expand the pool of people who have priority access. That pool should now include Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 who have certain underlying health issues that increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19, he said.
As a result, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy announced that the state will extend vaccine eligibility per Azar's recommendations starting Thursday.
The decision will bump the state's two million cigarette smokers to the front of the vaccine line, alongside people with other high-risk medical conditions, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, andheart disease.
I genuinely cannot tell you how much I love this. Like what kind of backwards-ass world are we living in where smokers, the people who literally care less about their health than anyone on earth, are being bumped to the front of the line. All you can do is laugh. Here's what the director for the State Department of Health had to say...
"Nicotine is one of the most powerful addictions. Smoking put individuals at higher risk for more severe disease. If an individual who smokes gets COVID, they get sicker much quicker....Our goal is to save as many lives as possible and to promote vaccination among the highest risk groups," she added.
I'm willing to bet my life that she's is a smoker. If I had to guess I'd say her poison is either Marlboro Menthol 100s or Virginia Slim 120s. Something about the name Donna...Regardless, this change in policy means that all you have to do to get vaccinated is go pick up a pack of butts. That's it. The state also said that it WON'T ASK FOR PROOF as to whether or not you're a smoker meaning you won't have to cough up a ball of phlegm in order to get a shot...
NJ Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said in a press conference Wednesday that the state will not ask for proof that people smoke if they show up for a shot. "No documentation of the medical condition or your age will be required," she said.
At least theyr'e getting rid of the red tape though, right? New Jersey has been ravaged by this disease so the more vaccines they can hand out the better. I just think it's funny how smokers will be getting the shot ahead of teachers and public transportation employees. Oh well. Here's a clip of Phil Hartman endorsing cigarettes on Letterman to end this blog. Enjoy…
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