New Jersey allowing smokers to get vaccinated, without proof.

[RRR 3,996]

Okay yes at-risk groups should be prioritized, but have you considered that smokers maybe are even more at-risk than some other groups simply because of the impact on their breathing? So should we just throw them away because they voluntarily made a decision to smoke initially, and then became hooked and unable to stop? It would be same if we did not prioritize to treat HIV patients because they made a decision to have sex.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Lady Papa said:

Okay yes at-risk groups should be prioritized, but have you considered that smokers maybe are even more at-risk than some other groups simply because of the impact on their breathing? So should we just throw them away because they voluntarily made a decision to smoke initially, and then became hooked and unable to stop?

Yes, I did. But not until about two pages into this thread. I understand that they are higher risk. My posts were just an expression of my frustration and a knee jerk reaction, fueled from emotion.

Some people angry at me for not being compassionate towards smokers meanwhile you guys were quick to tell me to suck it up, stop making myself a victim, etc. for feeling what I felt without offering anything else. The hypocrisy, really.

[MJHolland 12,725]

7 minutes ago, xoxo Craig said:

Explain to me the racism behind calling out smokers?    last time I checked, smoking wasn't bound to a particular race

There's a clear difference between wanting to quit smoking/drugs and can't because you're addicted, and choosing to smoke because you like it regardless of knowing its bad for your health.

People with asthma and severe illnesses that effect the lungs ARE "worthy" of getting the vaccine. You wanna know why? Its simple logic really. Covid-19 is a virus that attacks the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. That's why when patients are treated in hospital, they are hooked up to a ventilator to provide extra oxygen. Can you imagine a situation where you have a medical condition which closes the air pipes on top of Covid-19? If you have severe asthma or medical conditions which make it hard to breathe, you will likely not survive Covid-19. Thats why they are one of the most vulnerable group of people and why they should be given the vaccine before any of us. 

Here in the UK, people with the most extreme forms of asthma are on the priority list to get the vaccine first

refer to my half dozen other detailed posts here bc I don't have time to write out the same stuff if you'll just ignore what I said again. 

"People [who smoke] ARE "worthy" of getting the vaccine. You wanna know why? Its simple logic really. Covid-19 is a virus that attacks the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. That's why when patients are treated in hospital, they are hooked up to a ventilator to provide extra oxygen."

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

2 minutes ago, MJHolland said:

refer to my half dozen other detailed posts here bc I don't have time to write out the same stuff if you'll just ignore what I said again. 

"People [who smoke] ARE "worthy" of getting the vaccine. You wanna know why? Its simple logic really. Covid-19 is a virus that attacks the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. That's why when patients are treated in hospital, they are hooked up to a ventilator to provide extra oxygen."

And I never said they weren't    everyone is entitled to the vaccine, but we should prioritise the most vulnerable first 

[shoful 13,304]

I live in New Jersey too! Lived in PA tho my entire life until a year ago. 
 

I’ll probably get **** for this but even though smokers are a higher risk group. They chose that for themselves. They should not get priority over people who take great caee of themselves but this virus still threatens their lives. That’s ****ed up 

[GagaSine 7,464]

2 hours ago, CreamyBagel said:

Wow, my hypothyroidism induced obesity among a myriad of other health problems surely must mean that I am a “food addict”. Girl, read the room before fatshaming every single person as if they all are “food addicts”. If you’re so bitter that you resort to being an ableist bigot with internalized fatphobia JUST because you’re not one of the first ones to get the shot, I advice you stay safe, wear your face masks, keep the social distance and wait for your effing turn. It’s not that hard, really. 

Also calling it an addiction implies they need counselling/help because they can’t help it and thus qualifying it as a medical condition. And people with medical conditions that put them at risk are a higher priority for the vaccine.  

[GagaSine 7,464]

12 hours ago, Franch Toast said:

I do understand the frustration, but the reality is, there are many conditions and diseases which you could claim are brought on by the person themselves as opposed to being genetic or just happening for an unknown reason. 

Doctors take a hippocratic oath. They have to help people no matter what, even people whose conditions are a result of their own behavior. What we don't need is to bring judgment into healthcare, especially when these things aren't as simple as they may seem. Moreover, as others have noted, it's a matter of public health and not overwhelming our hospitals.

The real anger and frustration shouldn't be directed at smokers; it should be directed at the failure to have an efficient vaccine roll-out and at the broken healthcare system in the US. 

(And for what it's worth, I'm a non-smoker who hates the smell of it, so I'm not saying this for my own benefit. I'll probably be one of the last people eligible for the vaccine because of my age and lack of comorbidities and the fact that I can work from home.) 

 

 

 

For real. Do you sit for six hours or more a day at your job or at home? Guess what that is hurting your health! Do you do poppers? Do you drink alcohol? Are you dependent on caffeine? Do you stay up late to party or watch tv or play video games? Do you not drink enough water? Do you have sex without protection? 

 All these things are “personal choices” that are damaging your health in some way, so by some people’s logic if you do any of these things you don’t deserve to be prioritized for the vaccine regardless of what other health conditions or situations you may be in. 

[dollardays 4,201]

Why would you discriminate, that's gross and authoritarian 

[buzzkill 5,183]

But smokers are a high-risk group isn't it? I’m confuses 

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

I think people are misinterpreting. Nobody is saying people who smoke should never have the vaccine. I think we can all agree that everyone, even anti-maskers, should be entitled to the vaccine. But we need to prioritise the ones who need it the most and give it to the people who are most at risk of dying than anyone else. Lets vaccinate everyone who falls into that category first, then move on the next group of people and so on and so on until we vaccinate everyone. I don't believe smokers are at the highest risk of dying from Covid-19, and I don't think we should prioritise or put smokers in the same category as the most vulnerable. They are at a higher risk than ordinary people, but I'm sure they can wait a little longer

[buzzkill 5,183]

Still not sure about the real issue nor problem with this. 

[GagaSine 7,464]

10 hours ago, Ivy said:

I see some people in this thread calling for the op to be more compassionate towards addictions but not being compassionate themselves towards the op. It takes nothing to be kind 

Disagreeing with OP’s opinion is not unkindness.

I’m sorry that @Agunimon ‘s family was so inconsiderate about their Health, it takes very Little effort to go outside to smoke. I applaud them for taking care of themselves by moving out. And I hope they are able to get the vaccine ASAP because they are vulnerable. I don’t understand why asthmatics are not higher on the priority list. Instead of shaming people who smoke or are fat perhaps that energy could go towards advocating for asthmatics and a better vaccine rollout and distribution, but it’s a bit late for that now. The fault lies with government incompetence. 2 million people have died and it could have been prevented.

My mom is a healthcare worker and she smokes cigarettes on occasion. She’s had a very hard life and has multiple mental health conditions, i’ve begged her for years to stop smoking but she says it helps with her stress level and to clear her head. She also meditates regularly, does yoga and eats a very healthy diet as well as making sure to do several laps around the park almost every day (and she is 60 years old!) and even if she didn’t take good care of herself otherwise I would still advocate for her to be a priority to be vaccinated, and not just because she is my mother.

You don’t know everybody’s life situation. The world is not black and white. We are not all either deserving or undeserving based on our actions, and we all should have dignity and lifesaving vaccines. 

[Oyster 2,458]

13 hours ago, Helxig said:

So people who knowingly smoke something that makes the health of themselves and those around them worse... are getting the vaccine first...? I-

It's literally their own fault. That's what you sign up for when you start smoking. That's... the entire thing about choosing to start smoking... the health effects... While people who choose to be healthy are punished for making good decisions. 

I'm trying to see how this makes sense but it doesn't to me? Maybe to keep hospitals clear because smokers end up taking up all the resources?

It’s an addiction though. A lot of people actually don’t “choose” to.

[President Biden 5,898]

3 hours ago, MJHolland said:

Ew wtf NO IT'S NOT UNFAIR 

  Reveal hidden contents

And no they are not taking priority over seniors over 65-75

Imagine telling a nurse or doctor who is overwhelmed with patients and is forced into providing EVERYONE in the ER triage care that we're not going to vaccinate the most prone people to severe illness because it's "their fault" 

You're having a really bad and judgemental attitude and clearly don't understand public health 

We're using SCIENCE to inform vaccine rollout. The data shows the groups most prove to severe illness, and we're using that knowledge to get the most vulnerable among us vaccinated.

WE HAVE TO STOP SENDING SICK PEOPLE TO THE ER OR ELSE SOCIETY WONT FUNCTION (ie lockdown)

Never mind that if we had it your way, minorities (who smoke more!) would be disproportionately condemned to die. 

 

Nobody is condemning them to death. But what I’m say is it is unfair to prioritize smokers (people who make a conscious choice to destroy their body) over countless other groups in NJ that are equally as vulnerable and can’t get the vaccine.

Don’t try to splain this to me with some whinying bs. I am both a New Jerseyian AND smoke. So I can, from personal experience, greatly condemn this bs move. Smoking is a choice just like refusing to eat healthy or recklessly driving. Vaccines being rolled out should prioritize Seniors and seniors only. 

[President Biden 5,898]

42 minutes ago, Oyster said:

It’s an addiction though. A lot of people actually don’t “choose” to.

That’s bullshit. You choose to start. You choose to buy more. And MILLIONS have chosen to quit.

 

This kind of rhetoric is enabling of self destructive behavior and takes blame away from individuals that use a product widely known to be dangerous.