CONNECTICUT – Phase 1b of launching the coronavirus vaccine in Connecticut will begin on January 18 for residents over 75, officials said on Monday. Registration for consultations starts on Thursday.
More than 141,000 doses of vaccine have been administered in Connecticut as of Monday and the state is the fifth nationally per capita in the distribution of vaccines, according to Governor Ned Lamont. More than 42 percent of all doses of vaccine Connecticut received were administered last week, he said.
The news comes as the state continues to see more coronavirus cases and deaths. There have been more than 7,300 new cases and 92 deaths recorded since Friday, according to state health officials.
Vaccines are available only by reservation. Medical service providers will contact patients this week to schedule vaccines, officials said. Details of online and telephone reservations will also be released on Thursday, said state operations director Josh Geballe.
There are more than 100 vaccination sites across the state and the authorities hope to increase that number. Officials said mobile vaccine clinics would be sent to underserved communities.
Lamont urged people to be patient as the vaccine’s launch expands. The state is forecasting a larger supply of vaccine doses after President-elect Joe Biden takes office, he said. Biden said he would allow a second dose held in reserve to be used immediately. The second doses would come from future shipments.
Frontline healthcare professionals will still be eligible for the vaccine, however, it will take longer to get an appointment, officials said. Lamont urged all healthcare professionals who did not receive their first dose to sign up now.
The state’s coronavirus vaccine advisory committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of adding more people to phase 1b. The group previously discussed adding people who face two or more serious health problems to the phase.
However, Lamont said he was hesitant to add many more people to phase 1b because it would delay vaccinating others who are already part of the group.
“I tend to think personally that both the CDC and our allocation committee are right,” said Lamont.
Lamont asked for volunteers capable of administering vaccines to sign up on the state’s website to help.