Lamont vaccine decision leaves grocery workers feeling betrayed
Lamont vaccine decision leaves grocery workers feeling betrayed
Cashier Jared Rivera works behind a piece of plexiglass as he cashes out Jim and Rita Gagnon of Southington at Tops Marketplace on June 30, 2020. Advertisement
Chris Barra attaches the ingredients for the bagels that are pre-packed for customers at Tops Marketplace in Southington on June 30, 2020. Bagels and other food in the self-serve area have to be pre-packaged to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Aaron Flaum, Record-Journal
February 23, 2021 05:47PM By Mary Ellen Godin, Record-Journal staff
Groups representing thousands of grocery store workers railed against the Lamont administrationâs change in the stateâs vaccination schedule announced this week.
Written by Gov. Ned Lamont
In an effort to ensure that Connecticut continues taking the most equitable and efficient approach to quickly administering the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible, Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the state will continue with an age-based approach to expanding eligibility to the vaccine, explaining that other previously considered scenarios proved overly complex and confusing, would potentially exacerbate inequities in vaccine distribution, and slow down the process of providing it to Connecticut residents.
Age is one of the strongest factors contributing to COVID-19 deaths, with 96 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Connecticut occurring in people over the age of 55.
Critics point to continued racial disparities in vaccination rates, with some arguing that the state’s increased focus on prioritizing mass vaccination will cause even greater inequity.
By Paul Hughes, Republican-American
Griffin Hospital nurse Cary Carpino administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Andrew Bertola of Beacon Falls on Feb. 11 during a vaccination clinic run by Beacon Falls and Griffin Hospital at the Beacon Falls Senior Center. Clinic workers administered 25 vaccine doses during the clinic and residents will return March 11 to receive their second dose. –ANDREAS YILMA
HARTFORD In a change of vaccination strategy, Gov. Ned Lamont has decided to follow an age-based approach for administering COVID-19 vaccines to the remainder of the state’s population willing to get the shot.
The state vaccination program will open up to people ages 55 to 64 on March 1 under a tentative schedule that was released Monday. The schedule progresses to ages 45 to 54 on March 22, ages 35 to 44 on April 12 and ages 16 to 64 on May 3.
CT vaccine priority to go by age and to educators, in reversal by Lamont
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Nurse Elin Loh assists Lt. Ken Benedict of the Bridgeport Fire Department as he administers a COVID-19 vaccination to a man at the weekly vaccination clinic held in the gymnasium of Central High School, in Bridgeport Feb. 10.Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday the state will expand COVID-19 vaccination eligibility next month through defined age groups
and to teachers, shifting priority away from essential workers and those with underlying medical conditions.
While state officials touted the new plan as a more efficient way to ramp up vaccinations, the approach deviates from guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, the CT Food Association and several labor unions criticized the governor for leaving behind frontline essential workers and those with medical conditions that