The state of Connecticut will expand phase 1b of the coronavirus vaccine plan in the coming weeks to include people aged 65 and over, as well as residents with underlying health problems that put them at greater risk of contracting the virus.
Governor Ned Lamont issued a press release on Thursday afternoon, saying that he instructed the Connecticut Department of Public Health to begin the phase by prioritizing the vaccine for people over 75 in the first wave and that it will accept the Subcommittee’s recommendations. Allocation of the Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group to expand phase 1b in the coming weeks.
This will include residents between 65 and 74 years old, a group estimated at around 353,000 people; and residents aged 16 to 64 years with underlying health problems that put them at greater risk of contracting the virus. The governor said that this group includes about 362,000 individuals.
Phase 1b currently includes residents aged 75 and over, which means approximately 277,000 individuals; residents and employees of congregated environments, which includes about 50,000 individuals; and essential frontline workers, which is approximately 325,000 individuals.
Lamont said he instructed the Connecticut Department of Public Health to begin the phase by prioritizing the vaccine for people over 75 in the first wave.
As the supply increases and a significant portion of individuals over the age of 75 received the vaccine, phase 1b will be opened to include more of the eligible populations, focusing on equity issues and the risk of poor results from COVID-19.
Lamont said that an estimated 1.3 million Connecticut residents are eligible for phase 1b.
Currently scheduling
Scheduling soon
- Essential frontline workers
- Individuals and employees in congregated environments
- Individuals aged 65 to 74 years
- Individuals aged between 16 and 64 years with comorbidities
The state expects to receive about 46,000 first doses of the 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
As of today, individuals over 75 can make commitments using the following tools:
Health care provider: Many residents have already been or will be contacted to schedule an appointment with their health care provider if their provider is participating in the state’s vaccine program. Not all providers are administering the vaccine. A list of participating providers is available at ct.gov/covidvaccine. Residents are advised not to contact their doctor or health care professional directly to schedule the COVID vaccination.
Connected: A form can be accessed online at ct.gov/covidvaccine that allows individuals to schedule an appointment via the web-based Vaccine Management System (VAMS).
Telephone: Those without Internet access can call the Connecticut COVID Vaccine Scheduling Helpline at 877-918-2224. The telephone system was created in partnership with the Department of Public Health and United Way of Connecticut and is specifically targeted to provide support for eligible vaccine recipients who have limited access to technology or who have language, disability or other barriers that may prevent them from using the existing auto-programming options successfully. The line will answer calls Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and will offer a callback option when all contact specialists are busy answering other callers. The team will try to return calls as quickly as possible, with the aim of answering the same day.
The governor said more details on phase 1b eligibility will be available and will include guidance for employers, employees, self-employed people and others on when and how to schedule vaccination appointments and where vaccines will be available.
Providers can complete consultations with other phase 1b eligible populations if vacancies are available.
More than 160,000 people in Connecticut received the vaccine during phase 1a, which started on December 14.