Marilyn Moore

Senator Marilyn Moore Encouraging Family Members to Help Residents Who Are 75 Years of Age and Older

As the state’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts progress to Phase 1b, Connecticut residents who are 75 years of age or older can now schedule an appointment to get vaccinated. State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) has released the following statement as the state’s COVID-19 vaccination web portal is now live.

“This new tool is imperative to help save those who are most vulnerable and protect those from COVID-19,” said Sen. Moore. “I want to encourage those who are able to register for a vaccine to do so. You are not only protecting yourself but others around you. This upcoming Phase continues to lead us in the right direction of our state returning back to normal.”

In the coming weeks, Phase 1b will include residents 65 years of age or older and residents between the ages of 16 and 64 with underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of the virus, in addition to residents and staff of congregate settings and frontline essential workers. 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. Individuals must make an appointment in order to receive a vaccine, requiring the online platform signup.

For those who are unable to access the online portal, family members and loved ones can submit an application for a resident who is 75 years of age or older into the state Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) by visiting portal.ct.gov/coronavirus, or by calling the Connecticut COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Individuals with email addresses and the ability to schedule online appointments are asked to apply through the website. If an individual does not have an email address to use, signing up for one is free. A resident can go to gmail.com and create an account, or a loved one can help do that for them.

“While I appreciate residents who are 75 and older being put into this next group who are able to get the coronavirus vaccine, I am concerned they personally will not have access to the online registration,” said Sen. Moore. “I strongly encourage family members of those who are 75 and older to submit an application on their behalf and I am asking family members help these residents sign up for an email account.”

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.