Connecticut officials say the massive expansion Monday to those eligible for vaccination, which resulted in some months not being able to find an available appointment, will derail the rest of the state’s implementation plan.
Because of the frustrations he heard from some of the 55 and older who reportedly struggled to find an appointment when they were eligible to register on Monday, Governor Ned Lamont and his government continued to urge patience and assure them that more appointments will be available soon.
Lamont said adjusting the state’s vaccination schedule to the first day of extended fitness would be “premature.”
“I think we find that we get additional vaccine doses,” he said. ‘Of course we’ll know more next week or more. And … I think you will be able to complete the necessary vaccinations within the next three weeks. ‘
The number of appointments made Monday was not immediately available, but government officials estimated it was in the “tens of thousands.”
The state was prepared for an increase in volume in its vaccination system, which doubled the staff at its call center for the expansion Monday when those between 55 and 64, as well as school and childcare staff, were eligible. A total of 610,000 people were eligible after deducting people in the age group who had been vaccinated earlier.
Government officials expect about 365,000 people to be eligible for vaccinations. Connecticut providers would be able to hook the number up to expected supply levels within about three weeks, but some got deals until April because of the way the system suits people with doses.
The experience on the first day seems to be mixed.
When registration began Monday at 12:01 p.m., Cheryl O’Brien said her husband reported to the federal vaccine administration system, but on April 14, found only one appointment about 100 miles from their home. The Shelton couple called the state hotline and later that day a local provider and were able to get appointments in March.
Helen Barry, a Danbury resident, reported around 6am and the earliest date she could find was late April.
‘The first time I was able to make an appointment was at a place about 20 kilometers away at the end of April. Barry, who is expected to receive her first dose on April 26 in Shelton, has no slots available.
John Roche, who also lives in Danbury, had better luck.
‘I stayed until midnight so I could schedule an appointment as soon as I was eligible. “I was lucky to get an appointment in Danbury this Thursday,” Roche said.
25 percent for targeted zip codes
There were also technical issues people were facing, such as Walgreens not updating its online registration form to include the new groups eligible on Monday.
“We are working to update our scheduler to include educators and other eligible populations in Connecticut,” a Walgreens spokesman said in a statement. “We apologize for the inconvenience as we work to vaccinate our most vulnerable population as quickly as possible.”
Lamont announced last week that he was going for the age-based approach and prioritizing school and child care workers instead of essential workers at the front and those with underlying medical conditions who thought they would be next.
The governor said the change would help streamline and speed up the process.
Connecticut is expected to receive approximately 140,000 doses of vaccines this week, including 40,000 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine approved this weekend.
“We have 500,000 people going to do those 100,000 doses so you can see that there’s going to be some line now,” Lamont said. “If we did it the other way around, you would have 1.8 million people trying for the same number of doses.”
Government officials said Monday they have asked suppliers to ensure at least 25 percent of the new vaccines go to vulnerable communities. As part of this effort, the state Department of Public Health has identified 50 zip codes in Connecticut that are in the top 25 percent of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index, which includes factors including poverty and housing density.
“We reach out aggressively to the communities. “We are going to allocate 25 percent of the vaccine to those communities to make sure they are vaccinated, even if we have to work extra hard to make sure they are vaccinated,” Lamont said.
Lamont’s office said DPH would track down the race and ethnicity data of the vaccines administered in this area and provide periodic reports on this effort.
Lamont will ease restrictions
Amid advances in vaccination and trends in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Lamont said he expects to make announcements later this week about business and travel restrictions – after coordinating with governors in the region.
Connecticut reported a positive 2.35 percent over the weekend when hospitalizations dropped to 431. Another 29 deaths were recorded, raising the state’s death toll to 7,651.
Lamont said it could take a week before the vaccine registration process is made easier for those still looking for appointments.
“I urge you to be patient,” he said. ‘Again, if you can work again or if you are not urgently there, give others the chance to move forward. I think it would definitely be appropriate. ”
Max Reiss, a spokesman for the governor, said the appointments available Monday did not yet affect the new doses of Johnson & Johnson that could arrive in Connecticut as early as Tuesday.
‘Based on the number of vaccines we receive, the number of people who have not been vaccinated, and the estimated percentage of people who want to take the vaccine, we are confident that everyone in the age group 55 to 64 will have a vaccine in the next want to get three weeks, must get the opportunity, ‘said Josh Geballe, chief operating officer of Lamont.
The Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Connecticut announced Monday that they have begun offering vaccinations to all VA patients, regardless of their age.
“Due to a steady supply and a strong interest from our veterans, we feel confident to drop the age restrictions to offer vaccine to any enrolled veteran interested in receiving it,” said VA Connecticut Director Al Montoya said.