Residents of Connecticut who are 75 and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and can schedule an appointment online and will soon be able to call the Connecticut COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist Line.
As phase 1b of the coronavirus vaccine rollout begins, the state will prioritize people 75 and older, but the governor is expanding this group in the coming weeks to include residents 65 and older and residents between 16 and 64 years old . have underlying health problems that put them at greater risk for the virus.
Phase 1b also includes:
- Residents and staff of municipal institutions (about 50,000 people); and
- First-line essential workers (approximately 325,000 individuals).
The state is urging people to be patient and said an appointment can take time.
From January 14, only residents aged 75 and older can schedule an appointment.
Due to limited supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine, the state says it will take several weeks to distribute the vaccine to anyone eligible for this next stage. Individuals must make an appointment to receive a vaccine, which requires registration on the online platform.
If you’ve already heard from your healthcare provider about receiving the vaccine, the state says you don’t need to do anything. They ask residents not to contact your doctor or healthcare provider about the vaccine if they have not contacted you.
How to Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine
Via a provider: People 75 and older can book an appointment through a provider ready for public distribution of vaccine to eligible residents.
The state says more than 100 health care providers across the state offer COVID vaccines. All locations require pre-planning and registration – no walk-ins are allowed.
- UConn Health: Clinic locations in Farmington
- UConn Health has also launched a new COVID-19 vaccine planning line at 860-679-5589.
- Hartford Healthcare: Various locations around the state
- Hartford Healthcare said people can book appointments at Hartford HealthCare vaccine clinics in Wethersfield; Norwich; Shelton; and Hartford. More sites will be added.
- There is a hotline where people can ask questions about MyChart: 860-972-4993 or email: [email protected]
- Walgreens Locations: A small number of retail locations will offer vaccine.
Online: People aged 75 and older who have an email address and have the option to schedule an appointment online can make an appointment through the online Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS).
Family members can also submit information online for their loved ones.
Many providers can be accessed through the VAMS scheduling system, including:
- Trinity Health of New England (hospitals and other locations)
- Griffin Hospital
- Nuvance Health
- Stamford Hospital
- Bristol hospital
- Local health departments
- Federally qualified health centers
Over the phone: Those without Internet access can call Connecticut’s COVID Vaccine Appointment Assistance Line at 877-918-2224. The phone system was created in conjunction with the Department of Public Health and United Way of Connecticut and is specifically intended to provide support to eligible vaccine recipients with limited access to technology, or with language, disability, or other barriers that may prevent them from successfully use existing self-scheduling options. The line will take calls Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and provides a callback option when all contacts are busy serving other callers. The team strives to call back as soon as possible, with the aim of responding the same day, but should be aware that this may take several days.
The vaccinations
Connecticut receives vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, and you probably won’t be able to choose which one to get. The state said there are only minor differences between the two vaccines, which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Pfizer vaccine is for residents 16 years of age and older and it is recommended that the first and second dose be separated 21 days apart.
The Modern vaccine is for residents aged 18 and over. The second dose is recommended 28 days after the first.