Lamont: CT At Least 6 Weeks From Easing Coronavirus Restrictions

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont said it would still be several weeks before he would consider further reducing coronavirus restrictions in Connecticut.

“I think it’s a little premature,” he said when asked about possibly getting rid of social distancing rules at places like restaurants. “We just opened to the youngest demographic now let’s give it six weeks, let’s give everybody an opportunity to get vaccinated.”

Lamont also echoed previous comments about a possible coronavirus vaccine passport in Connecticut that would allow people to attend things like sporting events or dine at restaurants.

“I think the private sector will probably take the lead there,” Lamont said.

Groton Pfizer location plays key role in vaccine production

Pfizer’s Groton research and development location played a pivotal role in manufacturing lipids, which are a key ingredient in the vaccine, said Angela Hwang, group president of the Pfizer biopharmaceuticals group.

“The lipids that were made in Groton have contributed to over 1000 million doses of the vaccine,” she said.

Pfizer announced this week that a study found its coronavirus vaccine had 100 percent efficacy for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15. The company also announced that another study found the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective for at least six months after a second dose.

Pfizer plans to submit its adolescent study data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hwang said. The hope is that the vaccine will get approval for use in adolescents as young as 12 in the near future.

The company is studying whether a booster shot would be needed six months or 12 months after the second dose, Hwang said. The mRNA technology used to make the vaccine allows it to be quickly tailored for any variants.

“The beauty of the mRNA technology is that once you have the genetic sequence of the virus you can quickly make it and in a very short order be able to produce a new vaccine,” she said.

Pfizer estimates that it could make a new vaccine in about 116 days, subject to regulatory approval, Hwang said.