Waterford: Police were called to CVS on Thursday at 106 Boston Post Street due to a group of about ten Long Islanders trying to get vaccinated and refusing to leave, local and police officials said. .
The problem started earlier this week. First coach Rob Brule said he got a call a couple of days ago that people were seeing an increase in out-of-state cars on CVS.
He referred the problem to Steve Mansfield, director of the Ledge Light Health District, who referred it to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Mansfield said he understood DPH paid a visit to the site Thursday. He noted that only people living or working in Connecticut are eligible to receive the vaccine in Connecticut.
Brule said in a statement, “I thank the Ledge Light Health District and the Department of Public Health for following our concern, that out-of-state people try to get the vaccines assigned to our residents.”
Police Chief Brett Mahoney said police were called to the scene.
“Ultimately, it was a call from DPH, which said there were people from New York trying to get vaccinated and refusing to leave, so we went there to mitigate the situation,” he said.
Mahoney said there were about ten seniors from Long Island, who told officers they were able to program using CVS. But when they arrived at CVS, they were informed that they were not eligible.
The police chief said people finally left without getting vaccinated.
Mahoney noted that Waterford police “deal with Connecticut criminal law, not vaccinations,” and that police are not trying to enforce anything around vaccinations.
CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis said the company is studying the situation and has not contacted Waterford police. He said CVS meets current state eligibility requirements to receive a COVID-19 vaccine: people must live or work in Connecticut and must also be over the age of 75, a health worker or a lifeguard who be exposed to the risk of exposure to COVID-19. , or a staff member or resident of a long-term care center.
“We reserve the right to cancel a vaccination appointment if it is determined that the information provided to establish eligibility is not true,” DeAngelis wrote in an email. “We recognize that there is a great demand for vaccines against COVID-19. As more supply becomes available and eligibility expands, we hope to increase access to vaccinations to more stores and more people.”
The issue came up at Governor Ned Lamont’s press conference Thursday afternoon. “You have to live here in Connecticut or work here in Connecticut,” he said. “You must identify yourself as such when you log in, for example, to that CVS site to make this appointment for your vaccination. You will need to prove your background and show proof that you have more of 75 years “.
Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe added that the state can examine whether there was insufficient notification to the programming system about eligibility. DPH spokeswoman Maura Fitzgerald said DPH “will continue to work with providers to ensure their appointment systems pre-select eligibility.”
A Long Island woman who appeared Thursday in Waterford said she told CVS several times that her 86-year-old mother was from New York and was not working in Connecticut, but that she said it was okay to go there, reported NBC Connecticut. CVS spokeswoman Tara Burke said it is the patient’s responsibility to read the criteria and make sure they meet Connecticut requirements before registering with the pharmacy system.