COVID-19 clinics use honor system for those without ID

Workers at Connecticut COVID-19 vaccination clinics are trying to make sure that everyone who gets a shot is eligible due to their age or profession.

But they also understand there can be barriers to proving these things — and they don’t want to deny people because they do not have access to the proper paperwork.

“We’re looking to control (the process) the best we can, but, at the same time, we don’t want to make it so that if you don’t have an ID or a license, you can never get vaccinated,” said Dr. Rockman Ferrigno, associate chief medical officer and chief of emergency medicine at Bridgeport Hospital.

With Connecticut opening up vaccinations to those age 55 and older, and those in the child care and education fields, the state Department of Public Health has issued guidelines for proving eligibility.

Under the state guidelines, “individuals should be asked to present verification of eligibility at the time of appointment.” Verification of age could include a driver’s license, passport or other identification showing the date of birth and verification of employment could include an ID card, pay stub, child care license or a letter from the employer.

However, state officials say people who are unable to produce the proper documentation may still be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Those without identification must sign and date a form, in which they attest that they are eligible to receive the vaccine. Those who give false statements are subject to state statute penalties, DPH spokeswoman Maura Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said the state is counting on both those seeking vaccinations and providers to be honest and follow the rules.

“We are hoping that people won’t resort to lying to jump the line,” she said. “The obligation is on the provider to ensure that the rules they agreed to when joining the vaccine program are followed, including confirming that the people they are vaccinating are actually eligible, and also on the individual to be honest about their eligibility status.”

Ferrigno said Bridgeport

Hospital is trying adhere to the guidelines, but also understands that not everyone has documentation, for a variety of reasons. For instance, he said, someone who doesn’t drive might not have a license.

“We don’t have a perfect ability to shake everybody down at the door (to make sure they qualify),” he said. “Our work is to be really compassionate to people coming in for the vaccine and to realize that there are barriers for some people.”

So far, several providers said they have not faced problems with people unable to show proper identification.

Director of Health Andrea Boissevain said those who show up at the Stratford Department of Health’s clinics are asked to show ID to confirm their date of birth.

“No one has refused to

provide that,” she said. “Most people are being very understanding. We’ve had no issues of ‘line jumping.’ If they don’t qualify, we ask that they wait their turn, like we did with teachers in the very beginning.”

Amy Forni, a spokeswoman for Nuvance Health — which includes Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk and Sharon hospitals — said staff at their clinics haven’t had any issue with people not able to provide identification.

As for those who can’t provide a driver’s license or other identification, Ferrigno said he’s had no indications that people are not being honest about their age.

“We’ve been having these conversations around, ‘Do we think people are lying about their age?’ and we don’t think a lot of people are doing that,” he said.

THESE ARE THE FOUR 5-OUNCE JUMBO GOLD BARS SEALED AWAY IN EACH GOLD VAULT BRICK BEARING THE STATE DESTINATION

How much are the Gold Vault Bricks worth: The answer is, it’s impossible to say. But, it would be foolish for anyone to try and determine the value of these Gold Vault Bricks based on today’s price of gold. Here’s why. Gold, silver and all precious metal values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But what we do know is that these are the only Gold Vault Bricks still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars known to exist. In fact, the value of the pure 24 Karat Gold layered content is just a bonus for anyone lucky enough to get one of these Gold Vault Bricks because there’s no telling how much the actual collector value could be worth. That makes the minimum gold fee set for state residents of just $49 per ounce which totals $980 for the full 20 ounces locked away inside these Gold Vault Bricks a real steal since residents living outside of the designated 4 states must pay $124 per ounce, which totals $2,480, if any remain.

Why the vault fee is so low: Since thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the gold, Federated Mint has re-allocated Gold Vault Bricks to be sent out in the next 48 hours. That means the gold is up for grabs and now residents in 4 states can claim the Gold Vault Bricks for themselves and keep all the valuable bars found inside. These are the only Gold Vault Bricks known to exist and everyone wants them. That’s because they’re still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold bearing the name of The First Bank of the United States of America and the state they were once destined for. That’s four massive bars weighing a full 20 ounces of 24 Karat Gold and valuable bullion copper in all. And here’s the best part. If you live in one of the 4 states listed in today’s publication you cover only the minimum gold fee set for state residents of just $49 per ounce. That’s a real steal because residents living outside of the designated 4 states must pay $124 per ounce if any remain.

FIRST LOOK INSIDE THE GOLD VAULT BRICKS: Pictured above are the Gold Vault Bricks containing the only Jumbo State Gold Bars known to exist bearing the name of the First Bank of the United States of America and the state they were once destined for. State residents are rushing to get them because the Gold Vault Bricks are still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold. Everyone lucky enough to get them better hold on to them because there’s no telling just how much they could be worth.