Connecticut Vaccine Appointment Assist Line and COVID-19 Update

Many of you have reached out to me with questions regarding COVID-19 vaccinations once you’re eligible.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) and the United Way of Connecticut announced plans to expand availability and access to vaccine scheduling through the state’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line.

Beginning Monday, February 8, 2021, 125 trained contact specialists will be available to take phone calls to schedule vaccine appointments from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days per week. Contact specialists will have the capability of booking up to 10,000 appointments at twelve locations across the state. This added capacity will be very important as Connecticut begins to receive larger supplies of vaccination doses on a weekly basis and prepares to expand Phase 1b eligibility. Starting this Thursday, February 11, 2021 all adults over the age of 65 will eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Key points on the expansion of the Vaccine Appointment Assist Line:

• Scheduling available seven days per week
• Scheduling occurs between 8a.m. – 8p.m. each day
• Minimal wait times
• Appointments being booked at 12 locations across the state
• Up to 10,000 appointments per week
• 125 contact specialists trained and answering appointment calls

With approximately 350,000 individuals in Connecticut between the ages of 65 and 74, and a slightly increased but relatively small weekly supply of the vaccine being received in the state from the federal government, Governor Lamont and state public health officials are stressing the need for patience on the part of Connecticut residents.

Currently, the state anticipates receiving about 60,000 first doses of the vaccine per week from the federal government.

All eligible residents are required to make an appointment in advance of receiving the vaccine. To find available vaccination clinics throughout the state, residents can visit ct.gov/covidvaccine and enter their zip code.

Appointments can be made utilizing the following tools:

• VAMS online system: VAMS is the Vaccine Administration Management System and can be used to schedule appointments at multiple clinics across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
• Call Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Assist Line: Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment assist line is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. To make an appointment, call 877-918-2224.
• Hartford HealthCare: Hartford HealthCare has multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the Hartford area. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
• Yale New Haven Health: Yale New Haven Hospital has multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the New Haven area. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
• Stamford Health: Stamford Health is operating a clinic seven days per week at Stamford Hospital. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
• Walgreens: Walgreens is currently offering the vaccine at 12 different locations and will soon be adding many more across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
• CVS: CVS is currently offering the vaccine in four locations (Colchester, Putnam, Waterford, and Windsor Locks) and will be expanding to 12 more locations in the next week. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
• Walmart: Walmart will be offering the vaccine at seven locations across the state (Hartford, New Haven, North Windham, Norwalk, Torrington, Waterbury, and West Haven). To make an appointment using this system, click here.

The United Way reiterates that language assistance is available for those who need it and the hearing impaired can access the Vaccine Appointment Assist Line by dialing 7-1-1.

For information on Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccination program visit: ct.gov/covidvaccine.

For COVID-19 Educational Resources visit: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/communityresources.

Below you will find some educational material from DPH regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine.