Residents age 65 and up can now schedule their COVID-19 vaccination appointments under the state’s second phase (1b) of the state’s vaccine distribution plan. Appointments for this new age group are filling quickly, according to Scott Martinson, director of health for the Connecticut River Area Health District (CRAHD).

“We had approximately 900 slots until we opened it up for 65 plus. They filled up within hours, which is what we expected,” Martinson reported at a Feb. 9 Deep River Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting.

The state estimates that there are approximately 350,000 residents in the new age group to be vaccinated. The federal government is sending “about 60,000 first doses of the vaccine per week” to the state, according to a Feb. 8 press release from Governor Ned Lamont.

CRAHD’s administration is “limited by our 300-dose a week projected model,” said Martinson. “Fortunately, we’re getting more than that, but just in a normal week, if we order 1,000, the likelihood of getting more than 500 is pretty weak right now.”

Although supply is limited, the drive-through vaccination model that CRAHD employs at the Old Saybrook Middle School has successfully vaccinated approximately 4,000 individuals as of Feb. 6.

“As of Saturday (Feb. 6), we’ve given 3,362 first doses and 685 second doses and 4,047 is the total vaccinations,” said Martinson.

Vaccine Administration

The state is tracking the vaccination rates for each of its 169 towns including Chester, Deep River, and Essex, showing progress in the 75 and older age bracket. The state uses 2010 census data to estimate the population of residents 75 and older, which is lower than 2019 estimates.

In Chester, the data shows 313 of the town’s 494 residents age 75 and older, or 63.4 percent, having received a first dose, as of Feb. 3. Approximately 14.8 percent, or 625, of the town’s 4,213 residents have received a first dose, according to the data.

In Deep River, 199 of the town’s 311 residents age 75 and older, or 64 percent, have received a first dose of the vaccine, according to the state’s Feb. 3 data. Approximately 13 percent, or 578, of the town’s 4,443 residents have received a first dose, according to the data.

In Essex, 689 of the town’s 762 residents age 75 and older, or 90.4 percent, received a first dose, as of Feb. 3. Approximately 18.5 percent, or 1,234, of the town’s 6,668 residents have received a first dose of the vaccine, according to the data.

Connecticut, which has vaccinated 56 percent of those age 75 and older, is among the top four states in the country with the highest rates of vaccine distribution, according to information from Lamont as of Feb. 8.

Groups Under Phase 1b

The state is projecting that the other groups of individuals included in Phase 1b will soon be eligible to schedule their vaccination appointments. This includes frontline essential workers and individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 with medical conditions that make them more susceptible to the virus.

The current group, those 65 and up, will take some time to vaccinate, though.

“If you look at 3[00,000] to 400,000 seniors 65 and up, certainly we’re looking at, I would think, at least four weeks, but that depends on allotment,” said Martinson.

“So, I believe, after three to four weeks, when 65-plus is adequately covered, they will more than likely move on to other 1b front line workers, educators, municipal workforce, etcetera. There is a lot of good news, but we gotta lot of work ahead of us,” he continued.

Registration in the Vaccine Administration Management System is required to schedule an appointment at CRAHD’s vaccination clinics. To find a vaccination site by entering a zip code, visit portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/covid-19%20vaccinations.