Connecticut — Last week’s snowstorm only caused a short delay in the state’s coronavirus vaccination efforts as providers bolstered appointment slots to make up for lost ground.
Connecticut temporarily lost ground compared to other states last week, but has since caught up and ranks 4th for percent of the population with at least one dose as of Feb. 6, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said Thursday Connecticut was on track to reschedule all canceled appointments by Sunday.
Eligible residents can schedule vaccines online or by calling the appointment hotline. Some providers have reached out to eligible residents, but state officials urge people to not reach out to providers about vaccines unless they have already been contacted.
Around 9.4 percent of Connecticut’s population has received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine as of Feb. 4, according to the state Department of Public Health.
The state continues to focus on vaccinating people 75 and over and around 43 percent have received at least one dose, according to DPH.
There is a gap on a town-by-town basis. The 75 and older vaccination rate generally is lower in high-need towns, which is defined as any town with at least one Census track with a social vulnerability index score at or greater than 75 percent. The 75 and older vaccination rate is around 37 percent in high-need towns versus 53 percent for all other towns, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Social vulnerability index is tracked by the CDC and takes into account factors such as poverty rates, lack of access to transportation and crowded housing.
DPH Commissioner Deidre Gifford said the state is offering assistance to any town or city that needs help with vaccination efforts. In Bridgeport the state is working with the local health department and area hospitals to boost vaccination efforts, including clinics located at senior housing facilities.
Officials will open up appoints for people over 65 within a couple of weeks before moving to essential frontline workers and people with certain medical conditions sometime near early March.
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