CT Coronavirus Vaccine Appointments Open For People 65 And Older

CONNECTICUT— Connecticut opened up coronavirus vaccine appointments for people between 65 and 74 years old Thursday, but it will take some time to get doses to people in the age bracket who want them.

Around 61 percent of state residents 75 and over and 13 percent (mainly due long term care facilities) of residents between 65 and 74 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

There are still around 300,000 people 65 and over whom haven't received a vaccine dose yet. The state gets around 69,000 first doses per week.

Connecticut has administered 580,000 total doses, 417,000 of which are first doses.

Who can get the vaccine as of Feb. 11?

• Residents 65 and over.
• Frontline health care workers, including medical first responders.
• Residents and staff at long-term care facilities (through federal CVS/Walgreens.)
• Residents and staff of certain congregate settings.

Connecticut also has an agreement to vaccinate eligible people who live in a border state, but work in Connecticut and visa versa.

Who is next in line for the vaccine?

Frontline essential workers (including teachers) and people with certain high-risk pre-existing conditions that could place them at increased risk for a serious or fatal coronavirus infection. The state Department of Public Health hasn't released the exact list of health ailments that would be eligible, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided a list.

"It's going to be at least a few weeks depending on the uptake and depending on the supply of vaccines," Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday during a news conference.

How can I get a vaccine appointment?

Connecticut has partnered with the United Way 211 to provide a list of providers by zip code.

Providers who schedule through the federal VAMS scheduling system include:

• Bristol Health
• Griffin Health
• Nuvance Health
• Trinity Health of New England
• Many local health clinics and health districts

CT Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224. Hold times vary and appointments are only available at a select number of sites. The phone line is active from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Providers with their own scheduling systems:

• Stamford Health
• Yale New Haven Health
• Hartford HealthCare

Walmart locations (in the future)

• Hartford
• New Haven
• North Windham
• Norwalk
• Torrington
• Waterbury
• West Haven

CVS (adding 12 more locations next week)

• Colchester
• Putnam
• Waterford
• Windsor Locks

Walgreens (plans to add more in future)

• Putnam
• Dayville
• Jewett City
• Moosup
• Canterbury
• Stafford Springs
• Canaan
• Torrington
• Litchfield
• Terryville
• Thomaston
• Watertown