Gov. Ned Lamont is accelerating the time frame for people to sign up for coronavirus vaccines in Connecticut and said he tentatively plans for the vaccine to expand to anyone 16 years old and up by April 5.
Following is the new time frame:
- March 19: Scheduling opens to all individuals between 45 to 54
- April 5 (tentative): Scheduling opens to all individuals age 16 to 44
- The state will work with providers and the Department of Developmental Services to accelerate access for the most medically high-risk individuals under 45 during the month of April.
He accelerated the schedule from people 45 to 54 becoming eligible on March 22, people 35 to 44 becoming eligible on April 12 and people 16 to 34 becoming eligible on May 3.
The governor said all eligible individuals in Connecticut who would like to receive the vaccine must make an appointment in advance.
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“Based on our discussions with the federal government regarding vaccine allocation, we anticipate receiving more than 200,000 first doses per week by early April. This allotment, combined with our state’s strong execution over the past several weeks, allows Connecticut to significantly accelerate the schedule so that we can equitably and efficiently vaccinate as many residents as possible. It’s still going to take some time to get the vaccine to everyone who wants it and I urge patience to the greatest extent possible, but over these next several weeks I anticipate that we will have an opportunity to considerably increase the amount administered each day,” Lamont said in a statement.
The governor said he expects there to be less demand for the vaccine among people in the younger age groups, which was a factor in his decision to accelerate the vaccination timeline.
This comes as the state Friday will ease some COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for nearly a year since the coronavirus pandemic started.
Connecticut is keeping the mask mandate that requires people to wear a mask or cloth face covering that cover a person's nose and mouth when you are in public and a six-foot distance is unavoidable, whether indoors or outdoors.
CT COVID-19 Numbers & Vaccination Update
As of Monday, the state's COVID-19 positivity rate is slightly up at 2.95% and 23 more deaths have been reported.
With an increase of 26 hospitalizations, there are now 407 people in Connecticut hospitals with the virus, Lamont said Monday.
The death toll is now 7,788, state officials said.
More than 85,500 people were tested for the virus since Friday and 2,525 tests came back positive.
State officials said nearly 1.4 million people have received doses of the vaccine in Connecticut. Of that number, 918,741 are first doses and 496,006 are second doses.
The governor said 96% of COVID-related deaths in Connecticut were among those 55 and up.
Below is the percentage of people who received a COVID-19 vaccine based on age group:
- 75 and over: 77%
- 65 to 74: 71%
- 55 to 64: 40%
- 55 and over: 59%
A total of 31% of people 16 and over have already received their first dose of the vaccine.
Lamont said Connecticut is ahead of schedule based on increased supply and strong execution.
Who Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Connecticut
- The state started the vaccine rollout in mid-December by vaccinating healthcare personnel, long-term care facility residents and medical first responders.
- As of mid-January, Connecticut residents 75 and older have been able to sign up for an appointment and get a vaccine.
- Connecticut residents 55 and older can sign up and get an appointment.
- Pre-K-12 Teachers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, food service providers, school bus drivers and childcare providers as well as in-school administrative staff. This group does not include individuals who are not required to work on-site in a school.
- Note: Pre-K-12 school staff and teachers, and professional child care providers will be eligible for the vaccine.
Note:To get a vaccine in Connecticut, you must either live or work in the state. If you typically visit a provider here but do not live or work in Connecticut, you are not eligible and must get vaccinated in your home state.
- 75 and up -- eligible now
- 65 and up - eligible now
- 55 and up - eligible now
Changes Coming on Friday
All capacity limits will be eliminated for the following businesses, while face coverings, social distancing, and other cleaning and disinfecting protocols will continue to be required:
- Restaurants
- Maximum of eight people per table
- 11 p.m. required closing time for dining rooms
- Retail
- Libraries
- Personal services
- Indoor recreation
- Excludes theaters, which will continue to have a 50% capacity
- Gyms/fitness centers
- Museums, aquariums and zoos
- Offices
- Houses of worship
- Gathering sizes will be revised to the following amounts:
- Social and recreational gatherings at private residence
- 25 people indoors
- 100 people outdoors
- Social and recreational gatherings at commercial venues
- 100 people indoors
- 200 people outdoors
- Social and recreational gatherings at private residence
- All sports will be allowed to practice and compete, and all sports tournaments will be allowed, subject to Department of Public Health guidance
- Connecticut’s travel advisory will be modified from a requirement to recommended guidance.
Lifting the CT Travel Advisory Mandate
The governor will also be lifting the state's travel advisory mandate, making it a recommendation rather than a requirement into a recommendation.
Passengers will no longer be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 10 days after travel.
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COVID-19 Restriction Changes Coming to Connecticut on March 29
- Capacity limits on early childhood classes will increase from 16 to 20
COVID-19 Restriction Changes Coming to Connecticut on April 2
- Outdoor amusement parks can open
- Outdoor event venues can increase to a 50% capacity, capped at 10,000 people
- Indoor stadiums can open at 10% capacity
- Summer camps and summer festivals are advised to begin the planning stages to open for the upcoming season
How to Get an Appointment for a COVID-19 Vaccine in Connecticut
By phone: Call Connecticut’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for scheduling at select sites.
Online: Schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment in VAMS, the Vaccine Administration Management System.
- Fill out the form to let the Department of Public health know you are interested in creating an account in VAMS. If you are currently eligible to receive the vaccine then you should receive an email from VAMS to complete your registration within 12 hours. Click here to create an account.
- Check for an email from no-reply@mail.vams.cdc.gov. Click on the link in the email and create your account. You will be prompted to retrieve a code that will be emailed to you. You will need to create a password and store it in a safe place.
- If you forgot your password, the "forgot password" link on the login page can only be used if you have created a password as part of your VAMS registration.
- Complete your VAMS registration.
- The first question that will be asked in VAMS is “Have you already registered as a vaccine recipient with VAMS?” The answer to this question is “No.”
- Questions with a red asterisk are mandatory.
- Insurance information does not need to be entered.
- You will be prompted to share some additional information about yourself.
- In order for VAMS to recognize your option chosen for race, click on your choice in the box on the left and click the right-pointing arrow to move your choice to the box on the right.
- Use your zip code to search for clinics near you in VAMS.
- The system will automatically search for clinics within a 10-mile radius of your zip code, but you may choose up to 100 miles from the dropdown menu, which might provide more clinic locations in your search results.
- You might need to check multiple clinic locations to find an available appointment. Find a slot that works for you, and book your appointment.
Providers With Their Own Vaccine Sign-Ups
- CVS Pharmacy
- Bridgeport
- Bristol
- Colchester
- Coventry
- Danbury
- Enfield
- Guilford
- Hamden
- Hartford
- New Britain
- New Haven
- Norwalk
- Putnam
- Uncasville
- Waterbury
- Waterford
- Willimantic
- Windsor Locks
- Winsted
- Hartford Healthcare
- Middlesex Health
- UCONN Health
- Stamford Health
- Walgreens: Access the scheduler here
- Canaan
- Canterbury
- Dayville
- Jewett City
- Litchfield
- Moosup
- Putnam
- Stafford Springs
- Terryville
- Thomaston
- Torrington
- Watertown
- Walmart. Click here to schedule your vaccine
- Bristol
- East Windsor
- Hartford
- New Haven
- North Windham
- Norwalk
- Torrington
- Waterbury
- West Haven
- Yale New Haven Health
