This week, Hartford HealthCare plans to open at least three new mega-vaccination clinics in Connecticut.
The effort is part of the healthcare system plan to get more shots in the arms and expand access to doses for suitable patients.
Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine in Connecticut?
The three new locations include Xfinity Theater in Hartford, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield and Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket.
Data have shown that people who meet the standard for obesity are at greater risk for serious complications of COVID-19. As a result, some states use BMI, or body mass index, to qualify people for early access to a vaccine. John Torres, medical correspondent for NBC News, joined LX News to discuss how BMI helps calculate your risk – and where it falls short.
The healthcare system has the capacity to distribute 35,000 vaccines weekly, and as supply increases, the system can distribute more than 75,000 vaccines weekly.
To sign up for an appointment, call 2-1-1 or go to hartfordhealthcare.org.
How to make 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 schedules at select locations.
Online: Schedule an appointment for the vaccination of COVID-19 in VAMS, the vaccine administration management system.
- Fill in the form to let the Department of Public Health know that you are interested in creating an account in VAMS. If you are currently able to receive the vaccine, you will need to receive an email from VAMS to complete your registration within 12 hours. Click here to create an account.
- Look for an email from [email protected]. Click on the link in the email and create your account. You will be asked to pick up a code that will be sent to you. You need to create a password and keep it in a safe place.
- If you have forgotten your password, the “Forgot your 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 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 asked to share additional information about yourself.
- To be able to recognize VAMS by your chosen option for race, click on your choice in the box on the left and click on the right arrow to move your choice to the box on the right.
- Use your postal code to search for clinics in VAMS near you.
- The system will automatically search clinics within a 10 mile radius of your zip code, but you can select up to 100 miles from the menu, which may provide more clinics in your search results.
- You may need to visit several clinics to find an available appointment. Find a lock that works for you, and book your appointment.