By Richard Kaufman
Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday announced that Connecticut residents over the age of 65 will be eligible to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments starting on Thursday, Feb. 11, as the state rolls into the next part of phase 1b of its vaccination program. Soon, the phase will become open to include individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 who have underlying health conditions, and frontline essential workers.
Vaccinations for individuals over the age of 75 and those within phase 1a remains ongoing.
There are approximately 350,000 people in Connecticut between the ages of 65 and 74, and even though there has been a slightly increased weekly supply of vaccine given to the state from the federal government, it’s still relatively small. Lamont and state public health officials are urging residents to be patient with the process.
Right now, the state anticipates receiving about 60,000 first doses of the vaccine per week from the federal government.
“In a perfect world, we would receive enough doses of the vaccine to make it available to everyone in Connecticut right now, however each state is being given a very limited supply, which is why we need to phase it in and give priority to the most vulnerable populations,” Lamont said on Monday. “I know that people are anxious to receive it, and I will continue advocating for our state to receive increased allocations in the coming weeks and months.”
Connecticut Public Health Acting Commissioner, Dr. Deidre Gifford, added that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted older people and those in traditionally underserved communities.
“Now that we’ve vaccinated the majority of our highest risk age group, we are ready to move to those over the age of 65. However, we want to ensure that within this high risk group, we focus on getting vaccine to individuals within the group who come from communities that have been hardest hit by the virus, namely our Black and Latino communities. We are working with our vaccine providers and other community partners to identify underserved areas and focus vaccine resources into those areas, including providing transportation assistance and other solutions to address barriers to vaccine access.”
Eligible residents must make appointments ahead of time in order to receive the vaccine at any open clinic in the state. To find available vaccination clinics throughout the state, residents can visit ct.gov/covidvaccine and enter their zip code.
Appointments can be made utilizing the following tools:
- VAMS online system: VAMS is the Vaccine Administration Management System and can be used to schedule appointments at multiple clinics across the state. The clinic at Greenwich Town Hall utilizes this system. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
- Call Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Assist Line: Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment assist line is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. To make an appointment, call 877-918-2224.
- Hartford HealthCare: Hartford HealthCare has multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the Hartford area. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
- Yale New Haven Health: Yale New Haven Hospital has multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the New Haven area. In Greenwich, there is a YNHH clinic at 500 W. Putnam Ave., and Brunswick School. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
- Stamford Health: Stamford Health is operating a clinic seven days per week at Stamford Hospital. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
- Walgreens: Walgreens is currently offering the vaccine at 12 different locations and will soon be adding many more across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
- CVS: CVS is currently offering the vaccine in four locations (Colchester, Putnam, Waterford, and Windsor Locks) and will be expanding to 12 more locations in the next week. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
- Walmart: Walmart will be offering the vaccine at seven locations across the state (Hartford, New Haven, North Windham, Norwalk, Torrington, Waterbury, and West Haven). To make an appointment using this system, click here.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
Vaccine Data Update
Lamont gave an update on the vaccine administration efforts, which have remained ongoing for several weeks.
The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of Monday:
- First doses administered: 387,174
- Second doses administered: 129,907
- Total doses administered: 517,081
So far, the state has vaccinated 56% of its population over the age of 75. Connecticut remains in the top four states in the nation for vaccine distribution.
Statewide Update on COVID Numbers
The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. These newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.
For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
Stay tuned for info on how Greenwich plans to handle the latest eligibility news for residents 65 and over. The next Greenwich COVID briefing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10.
