Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA) President David Kennedy today issued the following statement on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s decision to vaccinate smokers before first responders, including Troopers:
“I understand this decision comes at the recommendation of the CDC, but our commonwealth should reject this and place a higher priority on vaccinating first responders, who encounter COVID positive people every day. State troopers and first responders willingly risk their lives. If too many are stricken with the virus, public safety resources will be stretched to the brink. The commonwealth should immediately reject this tone deaf recommendation and vaccinate first responders so they can focus on doing their jobs. Pennsylvania’s new Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam must create a vaccination plan based on common sense.”