Photo Courtesy of Yujin Kim’ 23
As of May 20, more than 50% of Connecticut’s population was fully vaccinated, according to CDC data. On May 13, the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents, and vaccine providers immediately began to administer, allowing approximately 17 million U.S. adolescents to get vaccinated.
The success of the vaccination program in Connecticut is, in large part, the result of various campaigns and partnerships to encourage its residents to get the vaccine. In New Haven, community leaders and volunteers went door-to-door promoting inoculation. Dr. Stephen A. Civitelli, the Director of Health at the Wallingford Health Department, said that Connecticut’s productive vaccination rate was precipitated by “local health departments, such as Wallingford’s, offering vaccinations in late December really accelerated vaccination rates when compared to other states.”
Connecticut has seen a consistently low positive test rate and a continuous decline in Covid-19 related hospitalizations. As of May 14, Connecticut’s Covid-19 positivity rate was 1.12%, and hospitalizations had decreased by 24 people. According to recent data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, less than 0.1% of fully vaccinated residents have become infected.
On May 3, Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Public Health announced a $13 million federal grant to be distributed among 27 municipalities and local health departments in partnerships with community organizations and vaccine providers. “Our goal with the vaccination program is to reach out to every Connecticut resident, particularly those who have historically been underserved when it comes to access to health care, transportation, or other challenges,” Governor Lamont said in a press release. The grant aims to support vaccination distribution in communities of color and ethnically diverse communities. He continued, “Everybody deserves the right to access these life-saving vaccines. We need to do everything we can to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to receive this care.”
Governor Lamont also lifted most Covid-19 guidelines including the mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals on May 19; he said in a press release, “I think Connecticut has earned it.” Capacity limits are already up to 100% for businesses such as restaurants, libraries, museums, fitness centers, offices, personal services, and houses of worship. Masks are still required in all indoor public settings where social distancing is impractical.
In regard to Choate’s vaccination plan, around 400 students received their second vaccination on May 16, and about 100 others received their first vaccine on May 16 and May 21. An on-campus vaccine clinic for students 12 and older took place on the latter date. About 92% of Choate’s faculty and staff have been vaccinated, and Medical Director Dr. Miriam Cohen estimates that about 10% of Choate students have been fully vaccinated, and 75% are getting vaccinated.
Next year, Choate will require its students to be vaccinated. Arrangements will be made for students unable to get vaccinated before the return to school. “This way, we can have a campus with the minimum amount of restrictions that still keep us safe,” said Dr. Cohen. “We will certainly be spending the summer planning for a COVID safe campus in the fall, and I believe through vaccinations we will be able to return to as normal as possible.”
