Redding Teams With Bethel For Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout

REDDING, CT — The Redding Health Department has partnered with the Bethel Health Department to manage the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in both communities, according to a news release from the Redding Health Department.

The joint effort is known as the Bethel-Redding Covid Vaccination Program. The Redding Community Center will be the likely primary vaccination site used for Redding, according to the release.

The vaccine will be distributed in three phases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Phase 1a - This includes healthcare personnel, residents of long-term care facilities and first responders who face a risk of exposure to COVID-19. This group also includes Redding school nurses. Hospitals will vaccinate their own workers while CVS and Walgreens will vaccinate those living in long-term care facilities. Group 1a alone statewide includes approximately 232,000 people, and administering the vaccine and completing both doses could go up through January and February, according to the Redding Health Department.

Phase 1b - Although to date no firm guidance from CDC has been issued, it’s estimated this category will likely include those deemed to be in the “critical workforce” along with those over the age of 65, people who are considered high risk and under 65, and those who live in congregate settings. This group statewide includes approximately 1.5 million people.

Phase 2 – This includes the general public. Predictions vary from spring to fall of 2021 as to when this group will receive the vaccine. This very much depends on how many take it.

Along with the Pfizer and Moderna, two vaccines are in the FDA review queue to follow, the Health Department has advised. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be ready by February and AstraZenaca starting in March. The demand for vaccine is currently outpacing the supply.