Panel makes vaccine recommendations

Committee suggests incarcerated people, those with co-morbidity should be up next for inoculations

A Connecticut committee, tasked with advising the governor on the schedule of coronavirus vaccinations, on Monday diverged from federal guidance by recommending that the next wave of vaccinations include additional groups — including incarcerated people.

A Connecticut committee, tasked with advising the governor on the schedule of coronavirus vaccinations, on Monday modified the federal guidance by recommending that the next wave of vaccinations include additional groups — including incarcerated people.

The Allocations Subcommittee of Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group met Monday afternoon, one day after a federal advisory group issued guidance on the vaccination timeline.

The federal advisory group to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the next phase of vaccination include residents over the age of 74 and frontline essential workers such as teachers, grocery store workers and prison guards.

But that guidance is not set in stone. Connecticut’s advisory committee accepted the two federally recommended groups and then also added more of its own.

After an hour-and-a-half discussion, the Allocations Subcommittee recommended that Connecticut vaccinate these groups in the phase COVID-19 vaccinations:

People who are age 75 and over.

Frontline essential workers (a term which will be further defined at a later meeting).

Residents of congregate settings, including incarcerated people.

Vulnerable people who live in household settings, along with the individuals caring for those vulnerable people.

People who are under the age of 75 but have co-morbidity that places them at high risk of hospitalization or death if they contract COVID-19.

The second wave of vaccinations is scheduled to begin at the end of January, when Connecticut completes its ongoing vaccinations of health care workers and nursing home residents.

The Allocations Subcommittee plans to meet again, after the holidays, to further detail and finalize its recommendation. Once finalized, the recommendation will go before the larger COVID-19 Advisory Group and then to Gov. Ned Lamont’s office. The decision on the timeline is ultimately in the governor’s hands.

Connecticut’s advisory committee added incarcerated people even while the federal guidance excluded incarcerated people from