CONNECTICUT, USA — Next in the fight against COVID-19, another round of vaccine distribution for certain Connecticut residents.
Governor Ned Lamont said in total 85 sites across the state are now administering the vaccine. That number represents hospitals and nursing homes and while the state said it is preparing for broad distribution of the vaccine via local pharmacies, there’s no guarantee when and how many doses the state could receive.
About 75,000 vaccines have been distributed to Connecticut's hospital workers and nursing homes since the first dose arrived three weeks ago.
Connecticut has received 167,000 vaccines so far and Gov. Lamont said the state is preparing for when they can administer the vaccine on a broader scale.
“We’re rolling it out to pharmacies over the next couple of weeks, so as we broaden our population it will be easier for people to get their vaccine retail basis right at their local pharmacy like Walgreens, CVS--federally qualified health centers."
On Monday, assisted living facility clinics began administering the vaccine.
Gov. Lamont said by the end of the week 100% of the state’s nursing homes should have administered the first round of vaccinations, while other nursing homes have already begun distributing their second round of doses.
While the governor said essential workers will be included in the second phase of vaccine distribution, he added the state’s allocation committee will officially decide who falls under phase 1B.
“If we finally do have additional vaccines, we will open up the lens a little bit more in terms of age group, demographics, or other front-line responders," said Gov. Lamont.
The governor said the state is prepared to distribute the vaccine but it’s up to the federal government to decide how many doses and when they will receive them. Gov. Lamont also responded to a request from State Representative Vincent Candelora to include teachers over the age of 55 in the next vaccination phase.
“Let me just listen to my allocation committee, teachers in the classroom, they are frontline essential workers so I can understand where that question is coming from," said Gov. Lamont.
The governor said working with the CDC, the Allocation Committee will meet Tuesday to begin discussing how they will prioritize essential workers that are next in line to receive the vaccine.
