Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Connecticut opens COVID vaccinations to 65 and older

  • COVID-19
  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • February 8, 2021
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Connecticut will lower the threshold for COVID-19 inoculations on Thursday from age 75 to 65, expanding the availability of the vaccines to another 350,000 residents, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.

About 56% of the 75-and-older population have received the first of the two recommended doses, and demand still exceeds supply. But Lamont and his staff said the current limit on eligibility was beginning to hamper the effective distribution.

The initial rush of older residents eager for the vaccine is waning, and a broader pool of potential recipients will minimize the waste of perishable vaccines while public-health officials continue outreach to those 75 and older.

“Now there’s a little bit more hesitancy, and I want to make sure that there are no vaccines left behind and then every vaccine is a shot in the arm,” Lamont said.

Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, said as cities arrange for vaccinations at senior housing complexes, they have asked for flexibility on the age limitation so they can accommodate all residents, not just those 75 and older.

“It made a lot of sense, especially in some of the communities where we’re really trying to get to quickly,” Geballe said.

Beginning Thursday, anyone 65 or older can make an appointment for a vaccination. To find vaccination sites, go to https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccinations or call 877-918-2224, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

While many residents have complained about the  limitation of VAMS, the online vaccine appointment sign-up system, Geballe said the state continues to expand access to vaccinations. VAMS has no foreign language capacity, and it is not intuitive, he said.

Lamont said he hoped that the eligibility for vaccinations could be extended in March to essential frontline workers and individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 who have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID.

Connecticut reported 4,367 new infections among the 122,145 tests results returned since Friday, a positivity rate of 3.58%. More than 6 million tests for COVID have now been conducted in the state.

With another 68 deaths since Friday, the pandemic now is blamed for 7,282 deaths in Connecticut. But hospitalizations continued to fall as the second surge of cases recedes, a trend officials expect to continue as more residents are vaccinated.

Nearly 520,000 doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in Connecticut: 387,174 first doses and 129,907 second doses.

Lamont warned that opening appointments to 65-year-olds will increase wait times, and he asked for patience.

The 67-year-old governor said he now plans to be vaccinated.

By lowering the age threshold, the state still would be giving priority to an age cohort with a high number of COVID deaths and hospitalizations while reducing the racial disparity inherent in limiting vaccines to those 75 and above, a cohort that is both disproportionately white and vulnerable.

To increase access to vaccines in urban centers, Walmarts in Hartford, New Haven, North Windham, Norwalk, Torrington, Waterbury and West Haven are to offer vaccinations, but only by appointment — as is the case at other vaccination sites.

“So don’t just show up at one of those sites,” Geballe said. “You won’t get an appointment. You won’t get a vaccine.”

About 1,250 of the DOC’s 5,400 eligible employees have received the first vaccine dose, Karen Martucci, the agency’s director of external affairs, said Monday.

A  vaccination clinic  in partnership with Griffin Hospital ran for four days last week, one day shorter than planned, due to a snowstorm. The clinic will continue for three weeks at multiple locations, Martucci said.

In his confirmation hearing last month, Commissioner Designate Angel Quiros said less than half of staff surveyed said they would get the vaccine. Around 15% were undecided.

“We continue to focus on education for both employees and the inmate population to ensure that people feel confident that they are making an informed decision,” Martucci said.

Two-dozen incarcerated people 75 or older also received the vaccination last week. Three refused the shot.

Martucci said the DOC expects to receive vaccines this week to begin vaccinating the 208 incarcerated people between the ages of 65 and 74.

Kelan Lyons contributed to this report.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Pazniokas is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Restaurants and other business can go back to full capacity on March 19 as Lamont rolls back COVID restrictions in CT
by Mark Pazniokas and Jenna Carlesso

Connecticut will eliminate COVID-19 capacity limits on restaurants, houses of worship, retailers and most businesses on March 19.

1,500 Hartford school staff to be vaccinated this week at pop-up clinic
by Adria Watson

Vaccinations are taking place Thursday and Friday. A second round will be scheduled in coming days.

With billions in federal relief on the way to CT, legislators assert their role in deciding how to spend it
by Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas

With an unusual bill, state legislators are reminding Gov. Ned Lamont they have significant role in disbursing federal coronavirus relief.

Will getting teachers vaccinated get students back in school full time? It might not be that easy
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Kasturi Pananjady and Adria Watson

Districts will have to convince parents and students that in-person learning is safe and that students won't bring COVID-19 home.

Lamont urges patience as residents flood online, phone systems in search of COVID vaccine appointments
by Jenna Carlesso, Mark Pazniokas and Dave Altimari

Residents reported long wait times on the phone, difficulty with online systems and appointments as far out as late April.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The public health bill no one is talking about, but should be
by Brian Festa

On February 16,  the legislature's Public Health Committee conducted a public hearing on two bills, S.B. 568 and H.B. 6423, both of which would eliminate the religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for Connecticut schoolchildren.  The hearing was capped at 24 hours, depriving nearly 1,500 members of the public who had registered for the hearing their opportunity to be heard.  The vast majority of those who did testify, and who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill.  The committee is expected to vote on the bill as early as  today. 

Opinion Students need more resources, fewer officers
by Tenille Bonilla

"School resource officer" is just a nice way to say cop. But what students really need is more resource and less officer.

Opinion The Board of Regents’ changes must not shortchange its students or faculty
by Carrie Andreoletti, PhD

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universities have me worried.

Opinion How to close schooling opportunity gaps created by the pandemic
by Carol Gale

We ask school district leaders to trust your public servants whose daily work life involves assessing student needs and planning or modifying instruction to meet those needs. Listen to their voices, as we have, and allocate precious resources on interventions that will offer increased opportunities for Hartford students to succeed.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO