By Norm Needleman, State Senator.
I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. Please take a couple of minutes to read an important update on the state’s response to COVID-19 and the distribution of vaccines. Yesterday, it was announced Connecticut residents who are 75 years of age or older now qualify to receive vaccines. Also, the state’s COVID-19 vaccination web portal is now available to schedule an appointment for residents at least 75 years old to receive a vaccine.
I encourage all eligible residents to register. Registering for and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will protect vulnerable populations and save lives.
As of January 14, a total of 171,035 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to residents in Connecticut, with 154,994 of them receiving at least the first dose and 16,041 people receiving two doses. According to Governor Lamont, that means roughly 5 percent of the state’s population has received at least their first dose of the vaccine, good enough for 5th nationally. Vaccination is expected to ramp up in the near future, though because 1.3 million people are eligible to receive doses in the new phase 1b, patience will still be required.
I ask you to please be patient and continue to take health safety precautions, including wearing a face mask when out in public, while the state moves forward in distributing vaccines to residents.
Those 75 And Older Can Now Register to Receive The COVID-19 Vaccine
The state’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts have now expanded to phase 1b, and as a result, Connecticut residents who are 75 years or older now qualify to receive vaccines. Due to limited supply of the vaccine, registering through an online or phone system will be necessary. The state’s Vaccine Administration Management System is now open for registration submission. Those over the age of 75, or their loved ones, are asked to submit applications through the online web portal. When accepted into the registration portal, they will receive emails informing them of the next steps necessary in the scheduling process.
For those in the age group who lack computer access or knowledge, they can also call 877-918-2224 during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There may be an initial delay in scheduling access, but as the state actively enrolls providers and staff, it is expected for that access to rapidly grow in coming weeks. All information submitted through VAMS will be kept private. The link to VAMS also contains an extensive list of frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, helping to ease any concerns individuals may have. More than 100 health care providers statewide will offer the vaccine, including UConn Health and Hartford Healthcare, with more locations and a map of all locations to be made available in coming weeks.
COVID Vaccination Phase 1B Expanded
As the state’s efforts to vaccinate the public against COVID-19 continue, the state’s phase 1b stage received an expansion to cover more individuals who are at potential risk of infection or serious illness. In addition to individuals over the age of 75, front line essential workers and individuals and staff in congregate settings, who were previously considered to represent phase 1b, the vaccination phase will also lower the age requirement from 75 to 65, meaning every state resident over the age of 65 will be able to apply for vaccination. In addition, individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 with comorbidities will also be eligible to receive the vaccine.
According to current language, phase 1b will phase in each group, starting with 75+ individuals, then progressing to front line essential workers, individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 and younger individuals with comorbidities. At this time, individuals who are 75 years old and up are the only group under phase 1b that are having appointments scheduled.
Front line essential workers are considered those working on-site in proximity to the public or coworkers in industries including agricultural work, foodservice and restaurants, U.S. Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store and pharmacy workers, food bank and elderly meal delivery service workers, education and childcare workers, solid waste and wastewater workers, frontline public and social services and inspectors working in those locations.
In many instances, eligible workers will learn about vaccination through their employers. Hundreds of thousands of people are included in these newly expanded metrics and the state has asked the public to remain patient as more vaccine doses will be made available by the week.
New, Informative Information On COVID-19, Vaccines from Connecticut Children’s [Hospital]
The news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic seems to evolve almost daily, and there’s a lot of information to follow. Luckily, Connecticut Children’s Hospital has created several new informative articles meant to help parents educate their children, and themselves, about recent developments in the pandemic itself.
- The recent news of the “UK variant” of COVID-19, also referred to as the B117 strain, is definitely alarming, as researchers say it is more infectious. Connecticut Children’s published a guide to help the public understand what different variants of the virus mean and what impacts they could have, though vaccines will still be effective against them.
- With the COVID-19 vaccine approved for adult use, many families are hoping to find more information about when it can be taken. Connecticut Children’s has a guide available about when the vaccine may be available for children and reinforcing the safety of the vaccine for families.
- One of the most-asked questions, recently, has been regarding the timeline of the COVID-19 vaccine’s distribution and when life will return to “normal,” with concerts, sports events and family traditions and activities all allowed to continue. Connecticut Children’s created a guide explaining the likely developments expected from here.
Remain Cautious Of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has been exhausting and difficult for all of us, but now is not the time to let our guard down. The virus is spreading at a rate we haven’t seen in a long time, with East Hampton alone, a town of roughly 13,000 people, seeing more than 100 new infections in the last two weeks, 20 percent of its total infected population since March. While we wait for access to vaccinations, which are slowly ramping up in availability, please stay safe. Wear masks when in public, use good hygiene and take steps to remain socially distant. If you feel ill or believe you’ve been exposed, please seek free testing locations here or general testing locations here.
