Vaccine delay worries those with chronic illnesses in CT
NORWALK — Monday marked an exciting day for some 600,000 Connecticut residents who became eligible to register for their COVID-19 vaccines.
But for others, it marked another day of trying to survive as they await their own doses. And with each passing day, their health grows more precarious.
Last week, Gov. Ned Lamont announced a change of course in Connecticut’s vaccine rollout: Instead of vaccinating essential workers and people with pre-existing conditions, people aged 55 to 64 years old would be prioritized next, along with teachers. From there, the state would continue to roll out the vaccine based on age.
This concerns Tony Cappuccia, a 53-yearold Norwalk resident who was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma five years ago. Since then, Capuccia has been receiving chemotherapy. Three years ago he had a stem cell transplant.
Although he is high-risk, Cappuccia continues to go to work as an electrician, despite
“I have to wait another three weeks to a month. I’m not happy about it, but what about the 20-year-old with cancer or, God forbid, a kid? They shouldn’t have to wait another three months for a vaccine.” Tony Cappuccia
concerns about coronavirus exposure. He will be eligible as of March 22 due to his age. Still, Lamont’s new rollout plan is upsetting for younger people with pre-existing conditions, he said.
“I have to wait another three weeks to a month,” Cappuccia said. “I’m not happy about it but what about the 20-year-old with cancer or, God forbid, a kid? They shouldn’t have to wait another three months for a vaccine.”
Ana Tabachneck’s husband, who has a pre-existing condition, will also be eligible for vaccine registration on March 22. The two weren’t expecting him to be eligible on March 1 since Lamont’s original plan never outlined which pre-existing conditions would be included, so they are happy with the new rollout. But like Cappuccia, they understand the concern for younger people with chronic conditions who have to wait until April or May to register for their appointment.
“It’s possible if they’d gone with chronic conditions, he would’ve gone with this earlier, but I think this is a better way to go across the board,” she said. “I think Connecticut has done a great job with vaccinations so far and I trust it’ll continue to work out . ... (But) there’s always someone being pushed back . ... I think if I had a 20-year-old child who worked at a grocery store and had three different chronic conditions, I’d be trying to figure out an alternate way.”
For some, waiting for a vaccine isn’t just a matter of staying inside and not seeing friends, but risking their health. Alyssa Mackenzie, 33, of New Canaan, has been homebound for nearly a year now because of lupus, which puts her at high risk of complications due to COVID.
Since Lamont’s rollout plan was announced, Mackenzie has been writing to lawmakers, speaking with legislators, including Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and contacted the Department of Public Health, urging them to prioritize people with chronic conditions. She also worked with other activists to put together a toolkit to help those with disabilities looking for the vaccine.
“I certainly thought at the very least essential workers who are immune compromised would have some sort of priority,” Mackenzie said. “If you’re trying to reduce the burden on hospitals it makes sense to vaccinate people who are most sick . ... Really, the issue is resource scarcity caused by the previous administration. We should be mad about that. But at the same time I can’t fathom how we can’t create a hybrid or point system where we can pick out most vulnerable of most vulnerable.”
Mackenzie said she goes to the doctor once a month for an injection, but stays in for the most part at the advice of her medical team, who determined she’s too vulnerable to risk exposure. Her doctor even has a plan in to avoid having Mackenzie go to the hospital should she get sick, because the risk of exposure is too great.
“There’s a lot I do to keep disease actively at bay,” she said. “What’s been really frustrating for me is it has been 32 years of figuring out the exact combination that would work. That’s all been undone. Once I can’t get different healing modalities and treatment, it builds on itself. We don’t know if I’ve deteriorated to the point where I can’t come back.”
When Mackenzie does become eligible to register for the vaccine on May 3, she is preparing to have to wait at least six weeks out to get an appointment, given the wait some people faced trying to register March 1.
“People who put off procedures for a year, we’re not going to be able to put them off that much longer,” she said. “The decline is exponential in something like lupus . ... I think there will be people who will not survive because they can’t wait for their vaccine.”