The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
CT providers set to inoculate those 12 to 15 years old
HARTFORD — There will be ample vaccination opportunities for 12- to 15-year-olds starting Thursday morning, with appointments and walk-ins accepted throughout the state.
Parents and guardians will have to provide proof of permission.
Some providers are already accepting appointments, while state health officials and Gov. Ned Lamont prepare for the rules on inoculations to be released Wednesday evening by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Josh Geballe, who as Lamont’s chief operating
officer has led the administration’s vaccination effort for the last 14 months, said Tuesday that the plan is to begin putting shots in arms first thing Thursday.
“A number of providers are accepting appointments for Thursday,” Geballe said in a phone interview. While vaccinations will not be mandatory, as Lamont has insisted throughout the inoculation period, the higher the rate, the better for community immunity in the state’s quest to quell the pandemic.
“Hopefully, we will see high rates as we have seen through the program,” Geballe said. “Generally, we encourage parents with questions to reach out to their physicians, but so far the data show that the Pfizer vaccine is just as effective for the younger age as for older.”
Mass-vaccination sites are still operating, while almost all pharmacies are offering walk-ups, and mobile vaccination vehicles are still fanning out across the state. Geballe predicted that the coming weekend is shaping up to be a busy one for parents who want to get their kids inoculated, particularly those in moredelicate medical conditions, including obesity and diabetes.
State Rep. William Petit, R-Plainville, a physician who is the ranking member of the legislature’s Public Health Committee, said Tuesday that he doesn’t see a role for the General Assembly in the expansion of vaccinations to tweens and young teens.
“I think if the governing bodies out there allow it for this age group, I don’t think we have any more knowledge or expertise to override it,” Petit said. “I think it should be voluntary. They have very low morbidity-mortality for COVID, but I think it makes it easier if you have a 12-year-old kid who is overweight with Type II diabetes that’s now indicated, and there is some study data that you can look at and know what the side-effect profile is and you can at least make a decision.”
While he doesn’t expect all children of that age group to seek inoculations, Petit said he hopes that those parents who have children with ailments and conditions seriously consider it.
“Not all kids are likely to be vaccinated,” Petit said. “It’s really a doctor-patient kind of issue. Most docs are going to want parental consent for someone who is under-18. If I never met you before, I may want to FaceTime you if I haven’t seen you before. I think most docs would think the same way. I don’t think they want to vaccinate without parental consent.”