CT Coronavirus Vaccine Demand Down 50 Percent, But Cases Down Too

CONNECTICUT — Demand for coronavirus vaccine is down about 50 percent in Connecticut compared to two weeks ago, but vaccines are starting to make a big difference in viral transmission in the state, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

The state reported 486 cases Thursday and a positive test rate of 1.34 percent, which was the lowest daily rate in six months. Coronavirus hospitalizations dropped to 403 currently hospitalized and are poised to drop below 400 for the first time in more than a month.

“I like to think that this is a trend that’s going to be with us for a long time,” Lamont said at a news conference.

More than two-thirds of adults have received at least one vaccine dose in Connecticut as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state also hit a monumental milestone of more than 3 million total doses administered. Connecticut ranks first in the country for doses administered per capita.

The general trend in Connecticut is that demand drops off faster for younger age groups. Demand for people 65 and older started to flatten after 80 percent were vaccinated. It flattened at around 60 percent for people between 45 and 54 and at 45 percent for the 16 to 44 age bracket.

Connecticut’s vaccine strategy has started to pivot away from mass vaccination sites to smaller and more convenient options.

All colleges in Connecticut have held clinics for first doses. Large event and large employer clinics are increasingly becoming available, Lamont said. That means pop-up vaccine clinics at parades and other large-scale events will become common.

More than 100 vaccine clinics across the state now offer walk-up appointments.

There is no exact timeline for when mass vaccination clinics will come down, said state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe.

“Our providers have done a fantastic job of scaling their capacity up and now starting to ease it off as demand starts to wane,” Geballe said.