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Connecticut will reach the final phase of its month-long COVID vaccine rollout on Thursday when it opens eligibility to all residents of the state aged 16 and over.
Demand is expected to be high in the early days with 1.3 million people able to make an appointment for the first time.
State officials have continued to urge the new candidates to be patient as there will not immediately be enough nominations for everyone.
It can be difficult to get the vaccine. This guide will clarify some of the questions.
Who is eligible and will want the vaccine?
Anyone 16 years of age and older is eligible to receive a vaccine starting Thursday. Prior to Thursday, eligibility was limited to all people 45 and over.
While there are around 1.3 million residents between the ages of 16 and 44 who become eligible on Thursday, state officials estimate the number of people wanting to be vaccinated will be around 600,000 residents.
People in previous phases of the deployment – aged 75 and over, 65 to 74, 55 to 64, and 45 to 54 – will continue to be eligible to receive the vaccine.
When can I register?
Registration opens at 8 a.m. on Thursday. People can fill out the form to access the vaccine administration management system on Wednesday. To do so, follow this link to the state vaccine website and follow the instructions to create a VAMS account. It may take some time to complete the steps.
How can I get vaccinated?
The state system for vaccine appointments is VAMS. You can book appointments directly through this system. Some local health departments and healthcare providers (Bristol Health, Griffin Health, and Nuvance Health) also use VAMS, rather than their own system.
If you prefer to make an appointment by phone, the state has also set up a hotline available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The number is 877-918-2224.
The third option is to book an appointment directly with a health care provider or pharmacy. Check out the list below. Your health care provider may also contact you directly to make an appointment.
Hartford HealthCare: online or call 860-827-7690; or toll free at 833-943-5721
Yale New Haven Health: online
Stamford Health: online or call 203-276-7300 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Middlesex Health (patients can select MyChart or VAMS): online or call 860-358-7050 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Trinty Health of New England: online
Can I get vaccinated in a pharmacy?
Several Connecticut drugstore chains receive independent allowances from the federal government. Some independent local pharmacies also offer the vaccine. The chain pharmacies offering the vaccine in Connecticut are CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Stop & Shop. Vaccines are not available in all locations. Appointments can be made through each company’s website:
CVS
Walgreens
Walmart
Stop & Shop
What vaccines are available at the moment?
The state is receiving doses of three federally approved vaccines effective April 1.
Pfizer-BioNTech, which requires two doses for full effect. It is the only vaccine approved for people aged 16 and 17.
Moderna, which requires two doses for full effect. This is approved by anyone 18 years of age and over.
Johnson & Johnson, which requires a single dose. This is approved by anyone 18 years of age and over.
How long will I have to wait for a vaccine?
It is not entirely clear how long you will have to wait for a vaccine. With this latest expansion of vaccine deployment, hundreds of thousands of people become eligible.
State officials said there were 240,000 appointments for the first dose of vaccine this week, and they expect the weekly vaccine supply to exceed 200,000 by early April. .
These officials remain convinced that anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get an appointment by the end of April or early May.
If I am 16 or 17 years old, how do I get vaccinated?
16 and 17 year olds go through the same process to make appointments as adults, but they can only receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for those ages.
When it comes time to get to your vaccine appointment, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, officials said. If a parent or guardian cannot attend, they should contact the provider to see what documentation is needed to confirm adult consent for the vaccine.
Officials warn that without an adult or the proper documentation, a 16 or 17-year-old may not get the shot at their appointment.
State officials said plans are being made for school district-specific immunization clinics for children in this age group.
What if I live in another state but work in Connecticut? Can I take the photo here?
Non-Connecticut residents who work here can get vaccinated in Nutmeg State when their population group is eligible.
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