Lamont Administration Accelerates COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Every Connecticut resident over the age of 16 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by April 5, Gov. Ned Lamont announced this week.

Lamont set the new target date after learning from the Biden administration that Connecticut can expect an increased supply of the three authorized vaccines in the coming weeks.

“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,” Lamont said.

”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.”

Age-Based System

Connecticut went to an age-based system March 1 when it made residents between the ages of 55 and 64 vaccine eligible.

The change came after most of the state’s elderly residents and emergency responders were vaccinated, with the next phase initially focused on essential workers and those with underlying medical conditions.

BREAKING: As the state is anticipating to receive an increased supply of COVID-19 vaccines over the coming weeks, we are accelerating Connecticut's age-based rollout to proceed on quicker schedule than originally planned. 💉

🔗https://t.co/yE5FHqlAKK pic.twitter.com/QPVB8NUTFj

— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) March 15, 2021

The March 1 change also made educators eligible and most people who work in or around schools, including bus drivers.

That aspect of the rollout is expected to allow students to return to the classroom full time.

The increase in vaccine supplies also means Connecticut residents between the ages of 45 and 54 will be vaccine eligible starting March 19, Lamont said.

‘Patience’

Those aged 16 to 44 become eligible April 5, which Lamont said was a tentative date.

“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,” he said.

Eligible Connecticut residents must make an appointment to receive a vaccine, using a number of online options or by calling the state’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line (877.918.2224).

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Diane Mokriski (860.244.1900) | @HRHotline.