Have You Smoked 100 Cigarettes? North Carolina Says You're Next For Vaccines

Starting March 24, those people in North Carolina who have smoked 100 cigarettes will qualify for vaccines being distributed across the state, officials announced this week. How will they determine whether someone has smoked 100 cigs over their lifetime? That hasn't been answered.

Catie Armstrong, a spokesperson from the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services told The (Raleigh) News & Observer that “individuals can self-attest to the criteria (e.g., age, job role, health status, living situation) that they qualify for eligible priority groups.”

“It is important for everyone to find their spot and take their shot when it’s their turn. Our goal is to vaccinate as many people as quickly and fairly as possible given the limited supply of vaccines,” she told the newspaper.

And with that, it appears North Carolina has no way of proving whether someone has smoked 100 cigs over their lifetime.

Also included in North Carolina's Group 4 are people who are overweight or obese. The News & Observer reports the state isn't requiring some sort of proof of being fat or that you've smoked 100 cigs.

In other words, if you feel like jumping in line over someone who's smoked like a chimney for his/her life, go for it. You could also lie about having asthma, cancer, heart conditions, etc.

“It’s our hope, and expectation, that community members only register when they are eligible, and that when they register, they provide truthful and accurate self-identification,” a health care spokesperson told the paper.

Uh, good luck with that.

















Here's what one OutKick reader thinks the state is up to:


Written by
Joe Kinsey is the Senior Director of Content of OutKick and the editor of the Morning Screencaps column that examines a variety of stories taking place in real America. Kinsey is also the founder of OutKick’s Thursday Night Mowing League, America’s largest virtual mowing league. Kinsey graduated from University of Toledo.