Waitlist for vaccine will be cleared weekly

The waitlist, first organized in February, was cleared in early March after volunteers found most of the people had already received the vaccine by the time they were contacted.

NORWALK — The Norwalk Health Department once again cleared the COVID-19 vaccine waitlist Tuesday, as volunteers found many people contacted from the list were already vaccinated, city spokesperson Josh Morgan said.

Tuesday’s clearing of the list removed 4,600 residents. City officials will begin clearing the waitlist weekly to avoid a continuation of the issue, given how many appointments are anticipated with the health department’s Bow Tie Cinemas partnership, Morgan said.

“Volunteers were calling and calling and not having any success,” Morgan said. “Guess that’s good news, but frustrating at the end of a clinic.”

The waitlist, first organized in February, was cleared in early March after volunteers found most of the people had already received the vaccine by the time they were contacted.

The list was created out of a desire not to waste any vaccine doses. Enrolled residents are selected at random and offered extra vaccines and appointment slots made available through cancellations.

The original list had about 4,400 Norwalk residents signed up. Of the 4,400 registrants, 194 were 75 and older, 1,334 were between 65 and 74, and 2,850 registrants were between 18 and 64.

The list was created prior to the age-based vaccine distribution method Gov. Ned Lamont adopted in

March and does not have an unsubscribe option, Morgan said. Since its launch, dozens of Norwalkers have been vaccinated through the waitlist.

The list, however, only provides vaccine appointments through Norwalk Health Department clinics. Local pharmacies, grocery stores and health care providers across the city also offer vaccine appointments.

More than 100 pharmacies are set to begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine across Connecticut, including three in Norwalk.

The additional 104 pharmacies were announced in a statement from Lamont Wednesday, ahead of the April 1 vaccine eligibility expansion to all Connecticut residents 16 and older.

In Norwalk, three new pharmacies will begin administering the vaccine: Norwalk Pharmacy at 250 Westport Ave., Rite Aid at 190 East Ave. and Stop Rite at 360 Connecticut Ave., according to the statement.