CT Makes 100,000 Coronavirus Vaccine Appointments Thursday

CONNECTICUT — An estimated 100,000 coronavirus vaccine appointments were made Thursday as the state opened eligibility to people between 16 and 45 years old.

“I know that many of you were there at 12:01 in the morning and hitting that refresh button, be a little patient but right now the vaccine flow is still continuing,” Gov. Ned Lamont said at a news conference.

State officials continue to project that supply will outstrip demand by late April.

“We remain confident that everybody who is looking for a vaccine today even if they haven’t been able to find an appointment would be able to find one within the next two or three weeks,” said state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe.

Around 733,000 people in Connecticut are fully vaccinated and 1.25 million people have received their first dose — 43 percent of the state’s 16 and older population has been vaccinated.

Vaccine providers will constantly be adding appointments in the coming days and weeks. People who haven’t been able to get an appointment slot are encouraged to keep checking back.

Johnson & Johnson recently announced that up to 15 million doses would have to be scrapped due to an ingredient mix-up in a Baltimore manufacturing facility.

The announcement won’t have an effect on Connecticut’s Johnson & Johnson dose allotment for the next couple of weeks, but beyond that there is less clarity, Geballe said.

Around 49,000 Johnson & Johnson doses have been administered in Connecticut as of Monday.

Connecticut has used Johnson & Johnson doses to vaccinate hard-to-reach communities because it only requires one dose. Programs like the mobile vaccine vans can also use Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, Lamont said.

“I’d like to think we’re not going to miss a beat,” Lamont said.