Vaccination policy doesn’t make sense

I’d like to share an email that I sent to Gov. Ned Lamont’s office on the evening of Feb. 22. My message to the governor’s office read:

Gov. Lamont,

I’m a 34-year-old Connecticut resident in good health, and I’m happy to wait my turn for the COVID-19 vaccine. That said, my wife is also 34, but with an autoimmune disease that requires her to take daily steroids and weakens her immune system.

We’re devastated that you’ve decided to change the vaccination guidelines to be purely age-based. It makes no sense to vaccinate healthy 40- or 50year olds before vaccinating someone younger with underlying health conditions that would make them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19.

This shows a true lack of empathy for people who bear the burden of underlying health conditions.

Should the COVID-19 vaccination plan remain solely based on age, it’s highly likely we will take our combined salaries to a state that’s more accommodating to people our age. This policy change underscores a larger state issue: Connecticut’s inability to keep its younger generations in-state because of silly decisions like this one.

While I fully support vaccinating those over 75 as well as essential workers first, I cannot understand the sense in changing this policy. This sends the message to those with serious health conditions that their issues don’t matter, and I’d encourage other concerned state residents to share their voices.

Thank you for your consideration.

Devin Rogozinski

Fairfield