HARTFORD, Conn — Connecticut is providing vaccinations for more and more of the general population, but do you qualify, and how can you make an appointment?
On April 1, people over 16 years old will be able to make appointments to receive the vaccine.
Connecticut is giving priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations for people with certain medical conditions as eligibility opens.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health tweeted: "Looking for a COVID vaccine? The Vaccine Appointment Assist Line has plenty of appointments available and operators are standing by to schedule your appointment. Call now: 877-918-2224"
Some hospitals are planning special clinics while others are reaching out to patients. Clinics are also planned for people with developmental disabilities.
The Vaccines Administration Management System on Wednesday allowed people who will be eligible on Thursday to enroll in advance.
Guide For Those Scheduling COVID-19 Vaccinations For Others
State Senator Dr. Saud Anwar said, "The Department of Public Health has developed a guide to the vaccination appointment access process for those navigating the system for their loved ones or those who wish to assist others with making appointments. This guide will walk those willing to help others access the vaccine. It is available here and includes a full walkthrough of current practices."
Meanwhile, the new FEMA mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit began administering doses Monday in Bridgeport. It's part of a 60-day effort to reach as many people as possible living in the state’s socially vulnerable neighborhoods and to improve vaccination rates in targeted municipalities.
Contact specialists will have the capability of booking up to 10,000 appointments at twelve locations across the state. This added capacity will be very important as Connecticut begins to receive larger supplies of vaccination doses.
A complete list of the various scheduling options located closest to you is available at ct.gov/covidvaccine.
The public directory of vaccine clinics is available at www.211ct.org/vaccineclinics.
You can make one through Vaccine Administration Management System VAMS https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19-vaccination---75-and-older or over the phone 877-918-2224 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.The state will also have a call center where people can call for multilingual support.
Officials say you cannot show up at a vaccine site without an appointment.
Those with email addresses and the ability to schedule online appointments are asked to apply through the website; those over the age of 75 without the ability to apply online can call the Connecticut COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224.
Here are the key points on the expansion of the Vaccine Appointment Assist Line:
• Scheduling available seven days per week
• Scheduling occurs between 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. each day
• Minimal wait times
• Appointments being booked at 12 locations across the state
• Up to 10,000 appointments per week
• 125 contact specialists trained and answering appointment calls
Again, the phone number to call for vaccination scheduling is:
877-918-2224
Family members can also submit information online for their loved ones. Scheduling appointments may take time due to strong demand for the vaccine, officials said, but the state is increasing its effort to enroll providers and staff. The state expects access to appointments will grow rapidly in coming weeks, especially for priority populations.
All information submitted through VAMS or the assist line will be kept private and will only be used to schedule vaccinations. The link also contains a detailed and extensive list of frequently asked questions about the vaccine, helping to ease any concerns members of the public may have.
Hartford Healthcare has an online portal to make vaccine appointments or call (860) 972-4993
UConn Health also has a portal or call (860) 679-4400.
Yale-New Haven Hospital is also taking appointments and released a list of vaccination sites on January 20. Head here to learn more. Below are the sites:
Many providers can be accessed through the VAMS scheduling system including:
- Trinity Health of New England (hospitals and other locations)
- Griffin Hospital
- Nuvance Health
- Stamford Hospital
- Bristol Hospital
- Local Health Departments
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
Vaccination sites include:
Bridgeport
- Central High School 1 Lincoln Boulevard Bridgeport
East Hartford
Rentschler Field - 615 Silver Ln, East Hartford
Fairfield
- NEMG, 501 Kings Highway East, #204, Fairfield
Greenwich
- NEMG, 500 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich
- The Brunswick School, 1252 King Street, Samson Field House, Greenwich
New Haven
- Health Department clinic at 54 Meadow St.,
- Fair Haven Community Health Care’s headquarters at 374 Grand Ave.,
- Cornell Scott Hill Health Center’s headquarters at 428 Columbus Ave.,
- Yale University’s Lanman Center gymnasium at 74 Ashmun St,
- Hillhouse High School’s Floyd Little Fieldhouse at 480 Sherman Pkwy.
- The following Health System vaccination sites will open on Monday, Jan. 25:
- Floyd Little Field House, 480 Sherman Parkway, New Haven
- Parsons Center, 70 West River Street, Milford
- The best way to schedule a vaccination appointment at the New Haven Health Department site is by registering through the state’s online VAMS form here. Residents can also call 2-1-1 or 877-918-2224 if they would like to schedule an appointment over the phone.
New London
- Mitchell College, De Biasi Drive, New London will open on Monday, Jan. 25
- NEMG, 194 Howard Street, New London
North Haven
- Northeast Medical Group (NEMG), 4A Devine Street, North Haven
Old Saybrook
- NEMG, 633 Middlesex Avenue, Old Saybrook
Orange
The following Health System vaccination sites operating in partnership with Yale University will open on Friday, Jan. 22:
- Yale West Campus, 100 West Campus Drive, Bldg. 410, Orange
Storrs
UConn Health is opening up a new mass vaccination site on the UConn stores campus on Monday.
It will be located in Hawley Armory.
Appointments can be made online via UConn's my-chart or by calling the UConn Health vaccine scheduling line.
Access to Hawley Armory from Route 195 will be clearly marked.
Trumbull
- NEMG, 112 Quarry Road, Trumbull
Waterbury
West Hartford
Starting Feb. 8, residents with questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine can call the West Hartford Information line at 860-561-6998.
Phase 1B vaccinations started Monday, January 18th. At present, only people older than 75 are eligible. Providers may fill appointments with other eligible phase 1b populations if spots are available.
Those without internet access can call Connecticut’s COVID Vaccine Appointment Assistance Line at 877-918-2224. The phone system was created in partnership with the Department of Public Health and United Way of Connecticut and is specifically targeted to provide support for eligible vaccine recipients who have limited technology access, or who have language, disability, or other barriers that could prevent them from using existing self-scheduling options successfully. The line will take calls on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will offer a call-back option when all contact specialists are busy serving other callers. The team will aim to return calls as soon as possible, with the goal of same-day response.
Phase 1B may be extended to more age groups. On Jan. 12, the allocation subcommittee recommended that anyone 65 and older be included in phase 1B, as well as all adults with a CDC listed co-morbidity. (See below) A comorbidity is any condition in a person that makes the risks of more serious illness or death higher from an COVID-19 infection.
Are you eligible? https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccination---Phases