CT Vaccine Rollout Continues To Exceed Expectations

CONNECTICUT — The state currently ranks second in the nation for administering the most coronavirus vaccines per capita, and 60 percent of people 16 and older have received at least one dose and more than half of all adults are fully vaccinated.

The vaccine rollout has beaten the state's most optimistic projections, Gov. Ned Lamont said during a news conference Thursday.

Another key statistic: 89 percent of the population most at risk from the virus, those over the age of 65, have received at least one vaccine dose as of Thursday.

Also vaccinated with at least one dose is 76 percent of those between the ages of 55-64, 61 percent of those between 45-54, half of those between 35-44, 42 percent between the ages of 25-34, and 33 of those 16-24.

State Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said that Connecticut has also had an extraordinary success rate — 96 percent — persuading residents who have had one dose to get the second.

In some parts of the state vaccine supply has started to surpass demand. Nevertheless, the state will continue to accept 50,000 doses a week from the federal government, as Lamont said he hopes demand will rekindle.

The governor said the state aspires to see everyone in the state vaccinated, but would "like to think we will get over 70 percent, as "vaccine hesitancy" has begun to lessen among "younger people, the so-called invincibles"

All Connecticut residents over the age of 16 are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. Currently, Pfizer is seeking emergency approval from the federal government for its vaccine to be administered to children ages 12 and up.