The state of Connecticut will expand Phase 1b of the coronavirus vaccination plan in the coming weeks to include people 65 and older, as well as residents with underlying health conditions that put them at risk for the virus.
Gov. Ned Lamont issued a statement Thursday afternoon, saying he led the Connecticut Department of Public Health to begin the phase prioritizing the vaccine for people over 75 in the first wave and that he would accept the recommendations of the Subcommittee on allocation of the governor’s COVID-19 vaccine advisory group to expand phase 1b in the coming weeks.
This will include residents between the ages of 65 and 74, a group estimated to be around 353,000 individuals; and residents between the ages of 16 and 64 who have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk for the virus. The governor said the group includes about 362,000 individuals.
Currently, Phase 1b includes residents over the age of 75, approximately 277,000 people; residents and staff of the congregated environments, which includes about 50,000 people; and front-line essential workers, who are approximately 325,000 people.
Lamont said he led the Connecticut Department of Public Health to begin the phase prioritizing the vaccine for people over 75 in the first wave.
As supply increases and a significant proportion of people over the age of 75 have received the vaccine, Phase 1b will open to include more of the eligible populations, with a focus on addressing issues of equity and risk of outcomes. poor COVID-19.
Lamont said an estimated 1.3 million Connecticut residents are eligible for Phase 1b.
Current programming
Schedule soon
- Essential front-line workers
- Individuals and staff in congregated environments
- Individuals between 65 and 74 years old
- Individuals between 16 and 64 years with comorbidities
The state expects to receive approximately 46,000 first doses of vaccine per week from the federal government.
All eligible residents must make an appointment before receiving the vaccine.
How to register for a COVID-19 vaccine
Starting today, people over the age of 75 can make appointments using the following tools:
Reference professional: Many residents have already been or will be contacted to make an appointment with their health care provider if their provider participates in the state’s immunization program. Not all providers administer the vaccine. There is a list of participating providers at ct.gov/covidvaccine. Residents are asked not to contact their physician or health care provider directly for COVID vaccine appointments.
On line: An online form can be accessed at ct.gov/covidvaccine that allows individuals to schedule an appointment through the web-based vaccine management system (VAMS).
Phone: People who do not have Internet access can call the Connecticut COVID Vaccine Appointment Helpline at 877-918-2224. The telephone system was created in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and United Way and is specifically aimed at providing assistance to eligible vaccine recipients who have limited access to technology or who have a language, disability, or other barriers that can be avoided by using existing self-planning options successfully. The line will answer calls Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and will offer a callback option when all contact specialists are busy answering other calls. The team will aim to return calls as soon as possible, with the goal of answering on the same day.
The governor said more details on Phase 1b eligibility will be published and will include guidance for employers, employees, the self-employed and others on when and how to schedule vaccine appointments and where vaccines will be available.
Providers may fill appointments with other Phase 1b eligible populations if places are available.
More than 160,000 people in Connecticut have received the vaccine during Phase 1, which began on December 14th.