State Adopts Tiered Approach to Phase 1b Vaccinations

The Lamont administration will adopt a tiered approach to the second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Gov. Ned Lamont said this week the decision was made based on the state’s expectations it will receive 45,000 vaccine doses weekly from the federal government.

Phase 1b targets about 1.4 million people, including 325,000 frontline essential workers, including many in the manufacturing sector.

Based on the administration’s tiers, essential workers can expect vaccinations to begin in late February or early March.

Tiers

Phase 1b vaccination tiers:

• Scheduling now: Individuals over the age of 75
• Scheduling next (likely early February): Individuals between the ages of 65 and 74
• Scheduling soon (likely late February or early March): Frontline essential workers and individuals with underlying medical conditions who have an increased risk for severe illness

“We are working to administer the vaccine to as many people as possible, but the greatest barrier continues to be our supply,” Lamont said in a statement.

“That is why we are working to roll this out in a way that gets the vaccine to the people who are at greatest risk first.”

Definitions

The administration expects to clarify its definitions of frontline essential workers in the next several weeks.

Employers with Phase 1b-eligible workers should enroll in the state’s Vaccine Administration Management System.

VAMS is a secure, web-based application for employers to register and share rosters of vaccine-eligible employees, with vaccination appointments later scheduled at designated clinics.

Organizations must designate an employer coordinator to register and share rosters, including the employee’s name and email address as appointment times and locations will be emailed to individual workers.