BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WCBS 880) — Connecticut residents as young as 16 years of age will be able to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week.
The target date is now April 1, four days ahead of schedule.
"We had originally thought April 5 would be the day that we could open the door, open the aperture for everybody regardless of age to be able to make their appointment for a vaccine. We're going to move that forward a few days," Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday.
It was just a week ago that Lamont dropped the age eligibility to 45.
"Vaccination supply continues to ramp up, in particular J&J, 200,000 more vaccines, 200,000 more appointments next week. That allows us to get between the 45 to 54 year old age group pretty quickly," Lamont said.
Nearly 30 percent of that group has received the shot.
Approximately 1.3 million people will be eligible in the 16 and up age bracket. Officials figure half will seek an appointment.
Some young people already are vaccinated because they work in health care or education.
An estimated 40 percent though, might wait or decline.
Connecticut will aggressively call people and go door to door. About $58 million from the stimulus will go toward outreach in underserved communities.
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