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Dr. Stephanie Silvera Comments on Recent Vaccination Expansion in New York and New Jersey

Posted in: College News and Events, Public Health

Dr. Stephanie Silvera for PIX11

Dr. Stephanie Silvera, Professor in the Public Health Department, commented on the recent push for vaccination expansion in New York and New Jersey for PIX11. Over the last 24 hours, the tri-state area has seen a significant expansion in the infrastructure necessary to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, namely large sites like the one that opened Wednesday at the Jacob Javits Center, which can administer thousands of does per day.

In New Jersey, anyone 65 or older, those with chronic health conditions, and smokers are now eligible.

Dr. Stephanie Silvera said the big-picture goal is easing the burden inside hospitals: “We know that those individuals with pre-existing conditions, and as controversial as it may seem, smokers, are more likely to be hospitalized,” Silvera said.

Dr. Silvera said once again, the ultimate concern is the more transmissible variant’s domino effect on hospitalizations.

“When our hospitals are overburdened with hospital cases, that has an impact on non-COVID illnesses and conditions as well,” Silvera said. “People are more likely to put off being screened for cancer, having their cancer treated — it might have an impact on having access to ventilators for people with heart conditions and post-stroke.”