State braces for flood of shot sign-ups
Residents 16 and older will be eligible for vaccine starting Thursday. Here’s what you need to know.
Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination plan is set for its final major expansion Thursday, with every resident or anyone who works in the state and is 16 or older becoming eligible to sign up for vaccination. State officials are bracing for a flood of new registrations. Here’s what you need to know:
Who is now eligible?: Anyone 16 and older is eligible to sign up for a COVID vaccine in Connecticut starting Thursday April 1 at 8 a.m. This expansion will add just over 1 million people to the eligibility pool.
Who’s eligible already?: The program opened to residents 45 and older on March19, with that segment joining health care workers, nursing home residents, teachers, first responders and those 55 and older.
What if I have underlying health issues?: Thestate eliminated priority access for those with underlying conditions in favor of an age-based rollout, meaning residents with underlying conditions who didn’t otherwise qualify because of age become eligible April 1 along with everyoneelse. Butthosewithcertain conditions may be able under the state’s “accelerated access” program to more easily schedule appointments or have access to a fixed allocation of doses through certain providers. One expert compared the idea with the TSA PreCheck line at airport security.
What conditions will that cover?: Gov. Ned Lamont announced that Connecticut’s hospitals have agreed on five conditions that will qualify people for “accelerated access” to COVID19 vaccinations: Sickle cell disease; end-stage renal disease (on dialysis); active cancer, (in treatment); solid organ transplant; Down syndrome. The list does not include a number of conditions that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has deemed high-risk, such as obesity, smoking, pregnancy, diabetes and heart conditions.
Is thevaccinefree?: The vaccine itself is free. There is an administrative cost that is covered by most health insurance plans.
How do I sign up?: There are many options available once you become eligible and it makes sense to assess them before you are online trying to get an appointment.
The state — through its VAMS database — offers access to numerous sites across the state, including the mass vaccination site at
Rentschler Field in East Hartford. You can also register though the state by calling 877-918-2224; that line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
But there are numerous other options. The state’s major hospital groups, including Hartford Healthcare, Yale New Haven, St. Francis Hospital/Trinity Health and UConn Health, all register people directly for vaccines at numerous sites. CVS and Walgreen’s have their own registration options as well.
As the program continues to roll out and vaccine supply increases, there are also an increasing number of pop-up sites in numerous locations across the state.
Will I be able to get in to the various online portals right away?:
The state is bracing for a flood of new registrations. With each new phased rollout, many online portals were flooded and it was challenging to even get access to a number of sites, no less get an appointment. The advice at the time, as it is likely to be now, is to be patient and keep trying. DPH spokeswoman Maura Fitzgerald said that because the providers add appointments throughout the week every week, there will be additional opportunities to find appointments in the days and weeks after eligibility opens up.
Is there anything I can do to make it easier?:
Most of the portals, state or private, need some basic information about whoyou are, your age, your address, etc. Setting up your online profile ahead of time with whichever providers you are interested in will expedite the process of locking down a time. The state’s VAMS system is a two-step process that involves an authentication step so be ready for that.
What if I don’t have any underlying issues?:
The state is asking younger residents who don’t have any underlying health issues to consider holding off in the early days of the new registration wave to make way for others who may have a higher risk of illness or death in the event they become infected.
What if I am an essential employee?:
Connecticut moved away from the CDC’s recommendations to prioritize individuals in certain employment categories in favor of an age-based system. Gov. Ned Lamont has endorsed the approach as a way to expedite the process of getting the most people vaccinated as quickly as possible.
Doyouhavetogetbothof yourshotsatthesamelocation?:
Not necessarily, but many providers will schedule an appointment for your second dose at the same time you book your first, or right after you get your first shot. Both doses must come from the same manufacturer. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses; the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one dose.
Is one vaccine better than another?:
All three vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, have been certified for use as being both safe and effective. Public health experts recommend getting whichever vaccine you are offered when you show up for your appointment rather than brand shop.
Are all three approved for those 16 or 17 years old?:
No. The Pfizer vaccine is the only oneapprovedfor 16- and 17-year-olds. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are only approved for use by those 18 and older. Anumberofclinical trials are underway to test the safety and efficacy of vaccines in younger children.
Is it appropriate tosignup at more than one outlet?:
State officials have urged residents to only sign up for one vaccination appointment. Signing up for multiple appointments can confuse scheduling, block slots for others and, in a worst-case scenario, lead to wasted vaccine doses. It’s up to you which registration system you use to sign up for an appointment.