More Vaccine Expected In CT Next Week As Teens Become Eligible

CONNECTICUT — Beginning April 1, all adults age 16 and over will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, but not all vaccines have been tested on children that young.

After announcing that the final, and youngest, age tier in the state would become eligible to schedule an appointment for the vaccine four days earlier than originally planned, Gov. Ned Lamont underscored one critical distinction among the three available vaccines. Only the Pfizer vaccine has been tested on children as young as 16, although the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna brands have been cleared for those 18 and over.

The state will also be adding a "filter" to the "vaccination finder" on its website which will allow 16-17 year-olds to find clinics which are offering the Pfizer vaccine.

"It's going to be a rush to the gate," Lamont predicted during a news conference Thursday. There will be 200,000 more appointments available next week, and in anticipation of the new demand, more of the Pfizer vials are already en route to the state, Connecticut's COO Geballe said.

The final tier will include around 1.3 million residents. Of those, about 200,000 have already received at least one first dose because of their prior eligibility from employment, according to Geballe.

Vaccine manufacturers are making progress in the lab testing even younger people, Lamont said. He anticipates all age groups to be eligible by late summer or early fall.

Connecticut is third in the nation, behind New Mexico and Alaska, in coronavirus vaccine rollout. As of Thursday, 38 percent of all adults over the age of 16 in Connecticut have received at least one dose, including 80 percent of all adults over the age of 75.

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"In the works" is a prioritization of those with co-morbidities, Lamont said. He promised to reveal a detailed plan on Monday.

"In addition we are in the planning process for some dedicated clinics for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Geballe said.

Those who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine in Connecticut include:

• All residents over the age of 45;
• Healthcare personnel;
• Medical first responders;
• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities;
• Residents and staff of select congregate settings; and
• PreK-12 school staff and professional childcare providers.