Gov. Ned Lamont dramatically shifted Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy Monday, instituting a system for eligibility that prioritizes age over other risk factors and employment categories.
The only exception will be made for teachers and other school employees, who — along with residents 55 and older – will be eligible to receive the vaccine starting March 1.
Frontline essential workers and residents with underlying medical conditions were initially scheduled to become eligible for the vaccine in the next few weeks. Now, they will have to wait until their age group becomes eligible.
Here’s what we know about the new vaccination system:
Who is eligible right now?
Until March 1, vaccine eligibility currently remains restricted to residents who are at least 65 years old, as well as healthcare workers, first responders, nursing home residents, and residents of certain congregate settings.
Who becomes eligible next?
Under the state’s new plan, residents ages 55 to 64 will become eligible for a vaccine on March 1. Teachers and other school employees will also become eligible on that day.
Next, residents ages 45 and over will become eligible on March 22.
Residents ages 35 and over will become eligible on April 12 and those ages 16 to 34 will become eligible on May 3.
Could that schedule change?
The state anticipates that it will take roughly three weeks for members of each age group to receive their first doses of the vaccine. Connecticut’s eligibility schedule remains contingent on how many doses the federal government can supply, but state officials say they expect vaccine supply to increase and new vaccines to be approved in the coming weeks, enabling an accelerated distribution timeline.
What if I’m an essential worker or have an underlying condition?
Frontline essential workers — a category that included grocery store, public transit workers, restaurant employees and others — were previously in Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination program and were slated to get vaccinated within a few weeks. Those with underlying health conditions, such as cancer and diabetes, were also to have been included in 1B. Under the new plan, they will become eligible based on their age.
The federal guidelines also included an additional wave of workers that were presumably going to be included in the state’s Phase 1C eligibility group. That included, among others, those working in information technology, communications, energy, law and media. Anyone in those categories will become eligible based on their age under the new plan.
Which educators are eligible for the vaccine?
The guidelines prioritize school employees who need to work on site. All pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school teachers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, food service providers, school bus drivers, childcare providers and in-school administrative staff will be eligible to receive the vaccine in March. Education employees who are not required to work on-site and school board members are not included in this group and will have to wait until their age group becomes eligible.
“If you can telecommute, you shouldn’t be on this priority list,” Lamont said Monday.
If I’m 55 years old, when can I make a vaccine appointment?
Not yet. Residents ages 55 to 64 will be able to start scheduling their vaccine appointments on March 1.
When that day comes, eligible residents can make an appointment through the state’s central online system, which includes vaccine sites across the state. Residents can fill out the registration form on the state’s website, at https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/OnlineVaccine.
Residents can also call the state’s central phone line and make an appointment at a number of sites across the state, including the mass vaccination site at East Hartford’s Rentschler Field. That line can be reached at 877-918-2224, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.
Independent health care providers like Yale New Haven Health and Hartford Healthcare have their own vaccine registration systems.
I’m a teacher. How do I get vaccinated?
The state aims to start setting up dedicated vaccination clinics for pre-K-12 school and childcare staff as soon as next week, according to Lamont’s chief operating officer Josh Geballe. Those clinics could run through the end of March.
“We ask for some patience as we work with our districts to get those scheduled,” he said.
What if I live in Connecticut and work out of state, or vice versa?
If you live or work in Connecticut, you are eligible to receive a vaccine in Connecticut. If you live outside Connecticut, but work here, you must provide proof of your employment in Connecticut to receive the vaccine in Connecticut.
If I get vaccinated, should I still wear a mask?
Yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even after getting a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you should still wear a mask and socially distance.
Experts are still researching how well COVID-19 vaccines stop transmission of the virus, rather than just protecting someone from developing symptoms.
Are any other states prioritizing age over other risk factors?
Across the country, only one other state, Rhode Island, has decided to adopt an age-based eligibility plan. But in the state’s vaccine eligibility hierarchy, after expanding eligibility to residents ages 65 to 74, the state plans to target residents ages 16 to 64 with preexisting conditions, starting in mid-March
After that, the next eligible groups in Rhode Island will be adults ages 60 to 64, followed by those in their 50s, those in their 40s, and then those 39 years old and under.
Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com.
