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CONNECTICUT – The state will take a new “tiered approach” to vaccine deployment, Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday due to a limited supply of coronavirus vaccine.
Distribution will prioritize the remaining groups in phase 1b based on the risk of adverse health effects from the virus.
Lamont said he was leading the implementation in a “fair” manner, with concentrated vaccine distribution points in areas where residents and communities have barriers to access and care.
The tiered approach of phase 1b will work as follows:
- Planning now: people over 75
- Next meeting (probably early February): People aged 65 to 74
- Upcoming planning (likely late February or early March): essential frontline workers and people with underlying health conditions who are at increased risk of serious illness
The deployment of the vaccine to staff and residents of collective living quarters will be done gradually throughout phase 1b.
“We are working to get the vaccine to as many people as possible, but the biggest hurdle remains our supply, as we only need to receive about 45,000 doses of the vaccine per week, while 1.4 million people are eligible for the vaccine. phase 1b, ”Lamont says.“ This is why we are working to roll it out so that the vaccine is distributed first to those most at risk.
“The good news is that we are seeing an overwhelming number of people in our state who want to receive the vaccine – and this is a key part of protecting our residents from COVID-19,” Lamont added. “In the meantime, our administration will continue to do everything in its power to get more doses of the vaccine to Connecticut as quickly as possible.”
Also on Tuesday, the State Department of Public Health sent a communication to all school districts, local health departments, and vaccine vendors asking anyone who has an appointment for Friday of this week or later. late to cancel these appointments unless they are over 75 or were eligible to receive the vaccine in phase 1a.
Likewise, vaccine providers with clinics scheduled after Thursday that are not dedicated to people 75 and over or eligible for phase 1a are urged to cancel those clinics. This is done to ensure that Connecticut’s focus on people over the age of 75 is maintained, Lamont said in a statement.
“In order to vaccinate our 75+ residents as quickly as possible so that we can move on to the other groups within 1b, it is essential that we focus on vaccines in the arms of these elderly and most vulnerable residents,” said Acting Public Health Commissioner Deidre Gifford.
As of Sunday, about 221,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Connecticut since the state’s immunization program began, including 196,000 first doses. Connecticut administered 71% of the total doses it received from the federal government, including 92% of the doses allocated to all health care organizations and local health departments, placing the state in the top five states for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Lamont.
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