Month: January 2021

Senator Needleman Encourages Constituents at Least 75 Years Old to Register for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Today, as the state’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts graduate into Phase 1b, Connecticut residents who are 75 years of age or older now qualify to receive vaccines and the state’s COVID-19 vaccination web portal is now available, and State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) encourages all eligible constituents to register. Due to limited supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine, it will take a few weeks to provide the vaccine for everyone who is eligible for this next phase. Importantly, individuals must make an appointment in order to receive a vaccine, requiring the online platform signup.

“This is an evolving situation with plans changing all the time, but we have reached this important milestone in the vaccination process,” said Sen. Needleman. “Registering for and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will protect vulnerable populations and save lives. I commend all who have worked to make this happen and for the hard work they will continue to use to protect the public, moving us one step closer to the end of the pandemic.”

By visiting this link, those over the age of 75 or their loved ones can submit an application into the state Vaccine Administration Management System. Those with email addresses and the ability to schedule online appointments are asked to apply through the website; those over the age of 75 without the ability to apply online can call the Connecticut COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Family members can also submit information online for their loved ones. Scheduling appointments may take time due to strong demand for the vaccine, officials said, but the state is increasing its effort to enroll providers and staff. The state expects access to appointments will grow rapidly in coming weeks, especially for priority populations. All information submitted through VAMS or the assist line will be kept private and will only be used to schedule vaccinations. The link also contains a detailed and extensive list of frequently asked questions about the vaccine, helping to ease any concerns members of the public may have.

More than 100 health care providers across the state are offering the COVID-19 vaccine, including UConn Health and Hartford Healthcare, with more locations coming soon. A map of all locations will be made available in coming weeks.

Expanded access to the COVID-19 vaccine is increasingly important, especially in high-risk groups, to reduce the severe impacts the virus has had on the state. While just 13,695 of the state’s more than 200,000 COVID-19 infections were among people 80 and over, and less than 27,000 of them were among people 70 and over, more than 5,200 of Connecticut’s 6,536 total COVID-19 deaths as of January 13, nearly 80 percent, were among individuals in those age groups.

Senator Needleman Holds Zoom Roundtable Discussion With District Breweries to Find Solutions Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) held a roundtable business discussion with the owners of several independent breweries operating in his Senate District. As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the breweries’ business practices since March 2020, and breweries struggling to sell their offerings in the current resulting market, Sen. Needleman discussed specific challenges the breweries face in surviving the challenging winter season and what solutions could assist them until the pandemic’s abatement or widespread adoption of vaccines allow for resumption of traditional practices.

Brewery owners participating in the discussion included Dave Peichert, co-owner of Concentric Brewing Company of Portland; Carlisle Schaeffer and Sam Wagner, co-founders of Little House Brewing Co. of Chester; Kerstin Fluegeman and Spencer Waldron, owners of High Nine Brewing of Deep River; and Justin Terribile, co-owner and director of sales and marketing for 30 Mile Brewing of Old Saybrook.

“Independent breweries have been one of Connecticut’s strongest business success stories in recent years, and we cannot allow the COVID-19 pandemic to change that,” said Sen. Needleman. “We gathered this morning to discuss, frankly, the state of their businesses, what impact the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have had on them, and what potential responses and solutions could help them during these extremely challenging times. I’m hopeful that federal assistance and state support can help them find improvements. With several breweries reporting strong declines in business, we need to find solutions as soon as we can.”

“Like many small businesses, Covid has been nothing short of scary,” said Peichert. “Right after signing our lease and beginning the build-out of our brewery, the pandemic really took hold and things began closing down. We had spent a fair amount of time analyzing the market and carefully planning every aspect of our business but a global pandemic never hit our radar.”

Brewery owners reported many strategies adopted in the wake of the pandemic, including shifts to to-go sales and deals to supply local restaurants with draft beer, but continue to struggle in light of strong declines in customer traffic. They further noted some rules put in place by the Department of Consumer Protection, including a mandate to require food sales with alcoholic beverages, further complicate the difficult balance they face; some locations, for instance, are not allowed to sell food, while others face stark financial losses in acquiring equipment to serve food. They also reported frequent changes in regulations leave them struggling to interpret correct practices with minimal time to properly implement changes.

Discussions centered around the winter months, in which breweries are seeing their worst sales amid strict limits on customers allowed, increased spread of COVID-19 and other difficulties. It’s hoped federal assistance will help in the immediate future, but the owners said they need support from the state and others to have the best chance of success. Sen. Needleman plans to seek assistance for them through the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Senator Needleman Pleased as New York Times Names East Haddam ‘Place to Love in 2021’

Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) was pleased to see the New York Times recently named East Haddam one of its “Places to Love in 2021.” The town is one of just 52 locations around the world given this distinction by the newspaper, which chose its favorite reader submissions from more than 2,000 entries.

“Anyone who’s spent time in East Haddam knows how special it is, and I’m happy to see the New York Times agrees,” said Sen. Needleman. “Thanks to Caley Millen-Pigliucci, who calls East Haddam her hometown and submitted a delightful passage to the Times, readers the world over will know what we already do: the beauty of our Swing Bridge, the lovely performances of our Goodspeed Opera House and the scenic waterfall at Devil’s Hopyard State Park, among many other things. Not only is this a lovely distinction for our town, but it could also lead to a jump in tourism after the COVID-19 vaccine’s widespread distribution, assisting the local economy.”

In “52 Places To Love in 2021,” sandwiched between the natural landscapes of Romania and Yarra Ranges National Park in Australia, East Haddam’s rolling hillsides and access to the Connecticut River’s riverfront are among the reasons why it received this distinction.

“I found myself marveling at the quaint farm stands and picturesque New England churches,” wrote Millen-Pigliucci. “It may be small, but it’s home.”