People 45 years old and up are now eligible for a coronavirus vaccine in Connecticut and Gov. Ned Lamont said anyone 16 years old and up who wants a vaccine will be eligible as of April 1.
Around 477,000 are now eligible and 1.3 million will be eligible when residents 16 and up can get the vaccine. The keys to getting an appointment are to check several different websites and to keep checking through the day.
Anyone who will be eligible for a vaccine will be able to register with VAMS, the Vaccine Administration Management System.
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Here’s what you need to know if you are booking an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine for yourself or someone else.
Who Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Connecticut
- The state started the vaccine rollout in mid-December by vaccinating healthcare personnel, long-term care facility residents and medical first responders.
- As of mid-January, Connecticut residents 75 and older have been able to sign up for an appointment and get a vaccine.
- Connecticut residents 55 and older can sign up and get an appointment.
- Pre-K-12 Teachers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, food service providers, school bus drivers and childcare providers as well as in-school administrative staff. This group does not include individuals who are not required to work on-site in a school.
- Note: Pre-K-12 school staff and teachers, and professional child care providers will be eligible for the vaccine.
- People 45 to 55
- People 16 and up
Note:To get a vaccine in Connecticut, you must either live or work in the state. If you typically visit a provider here but do not live or work in Connecticut, you are not eligible and must get vaccinated in your home state.
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Who Can Get a Coronavirus Vaccine By Age Group
- 75 and up -- eligible now
- 65 and up - eligible now
- 55 and up - eligible now
- 45 to 54: eligible now an estimated 400,000 people will be eligible
- Around 477,000 are eligible
- 16 to 44: Eligible in April
- The state will work with providers and the Department of Developmental Services to accelerate access for the most medically high-risk individuals under 45 during the month of April.
- Around 1.3 million will be eligible.
The governor previously planned for people 35 to 44 to be eligible on April 12 and people 16 to 34 to be eligible on May 3.
Learn more about the phases here.
How to Get an Appointment for a COVID-19 Vaccine in Connecticut
By phone: Call Connecticut’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for scheduling at select sites.
Online: Schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment in VAMS, the Vaccine Administration Management System.
- Fill out the form to let the Department of Public health know you are interested in creating an account in VAMS. If you are currently eligible to receive the vaccine then you should receive an email from VAMS to complete your registration within 12 hours. Click here to create an account.
- Check for an email from no-reply@mail.vams.cdc.gov. Click on the link in the email and create your account. You will be prompted to retrieve a code that will be emailed to you. You will need to create a password and store it in a safe place.
- If you forgot your password, the "forgot password" link on the login page can only be used if you have created a password as part of your VAMS registration.
- Complete your VAMS registration.
- The first question that will be asked in VAMS is “Have you already registered as a vaccine recipient with VAMS?” The answer to this question is “No.”
- Questions with a red asterisk are mandatory.
- Insurance information does not need to be entered.
- You will be prompted to share some additional information about yourself.
- In order for VAMS to recognize your option chosen for race, click on your choice in the box on the left and click the right-pointing arrow to move your choice to the box on the right.
- Use your zip code to search for clinics near you in VAMS.
- The system will automatically search for clinics within a 10-mile radius of your zip code, but you may choose up to 100 miles from the dropdown menu, which might provide more clinic locations in your search results.
- You might need to check multiple clinic locations to find an available appointment. Find a slot that works for you, and book your appointment.
What to Do If You Are Having Trouble Signing Up?
- Call the United Way Vaccine Assistance Line at 877-918-2224 https://uwc.211ct.org/vaccine/
- Join the New York/Connecticut Vaccine Hunters and Angels Facebook Group. This is a group of volunteers who help people find COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Find a Location Near You
You can find a location near you here.
Providers With Their Own Vaccine Sign-Ups
- CVS Pharmacy
- Bridgeport
- Bristol
- Colchester
- Coventry
- Danbury
- Enfield
- Guilford
- Hamden
- Hartford
- New Britain
- New Haven
- Norwalk
- Putnam
- Uncasville
- Waterbury
- Waterford
- Willimantic
- Windsor Locks
- Winsted
- Hartford Healthcare
- Middlesex Health
- UCONN Health
- Stamford Health
- Stop & Shop
- Target
- CVS locations within some Target stores will offer vaccines to people who are eligible.
- Visit CVS.com to check your eligibility and see if there's a participating location near you.
- Walgreens: Access the scheduler here
- Canaan
- Canterbury
- Dayville
- Jewett City
- Litchfield
- Moosup
- Putnam
- Stafford Springs
- Terryville
- Thomaston
- Torrington
- Watertown
- Walmart. Click here to schedule your vaccine
- Bristol
- East Windsor
- Hartford
- New Haven
- North Windham
- Norwalk
- Torrington
- Waterbury
- West Haven
- Yale New Haven Health
- Set up appointments here, or call 833-ASK-YNHH
- Cornell Scott Hill Health Center
- Set up appointments here or call 203-503-3000
- Fair Haven Community Health Care
- Set up an appointment here or call 203-871-4179
What Coronavirus Vaccines is Connecticut Getting?
- Pfizer
- For CT residents 16 and up.
- The recommended time between doses: 21 days
- Moderna
- For CT residents 18 and up
- The recommended time between doses: 28 days
- Johnson & Johnson
- For CT residents 18 and up
- This is a single-shot vaccine
With three coronavirus vaccines now approved in the U.S., learn the difference between them.
