Lamont: Vaccinations Could Bring Back CT Bars, Nightclubs Sooner

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont had a message to young people who miss bars and nightclubs: Get vaccinated.

“We’d like to get bars and nightclub open, maybe a few more young people get vaccinated, we’ll feel a lot more confident to head in that direction as well,” he said during his Thursday news conference.

Connecticut is set to cross the major milestone of vaccinating half of the 16 and older population within the next day or so.

About 82 percent of people 65 and older have received at least one vaccine dose as of Thursday in the state. Around 23 percent of residents between 16 and 44 have received a dose, which is about 8 percentage points higher than Monday.

Vaccinations opened up to the general 16 and older population on April 1. Many in the 16 to 44 age bracket who are already vaccinated were able to qualify under other state rules such as being a front line health care worker.

Connecticut is focusing on vaccinations in the Naugatuck Valley as several infect hotspots have cropped up in the area. There will also be a focus on encouraging young people throughout the state to get vaccinated, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

State officials still expect vaccine supply to outstrip demand by the end of April. Open appointment dates are becoming more common toward the end of April, said state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe. The state is vaccinating between 40,000 and 50,000 people per day.

“If you’ve been holding out, if you’ve been waiting, you didn’t want to wait online or hit refresh 1,000 times this is a good time to get back into the system,” Geballe said.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine shortage affects Connecticut plans

The mix-up at the Baltimore plant that produces Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses will complicate some of Connecticut’s vaccination plans. Up to 15 million doses will have to be discarded due to the use of wrong ingredients that was caught during the quality control process.

Connecticut expected 20,000 doses next week, but will now only get 6,000. After that there is more uncertainty about the number of doses, but the number could go as low as 2,000 weekly doses, Geballe said.

Connecticut originally planned to offer college students the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before they go home for summer break since it only requires one dose. The state will still hold the vaccination clinics, but it will have to use either Pfizer or Moderna doses, Geballe said.

Connecticut is working with other states and White House officials to coordinate the plan, Geballe said. Students would be due for their second dose around mid-May when vaccine supply is expected to outstrip demand across the country. They would need to get their second dose in their home state through another provider.

Plans to use Johnson & Johnson doses as the vaccine of choice for mobile vaccination vans will have to change for now, Lamont said. That too complicates plans because second dose appointments will have to be coordinated.