Officials: Yes, Out-Of-Staters Can Come To NH To Get Vaccines

CONCORD, NH — State health officials and the governor's press office have confirmed that New Hampshire has opened the doors to anyone from out-of-state who wants a vaccine to come to the Granite State and get one.

At his weekly news conference on Thursday, Gov. Chris Sununu announced residency would not be required for vaccinations beginning on April 19.

Most people, including a number of news outlets, presumed the governor was speaking about out-of-state college students, "visiting professionals," and others who own property in New Hampshire but are not residents.

For weeks, Sununu has been under fire for insisting vaccinations in New Hampshire only be available to residents — even after receiving pushback from college officials, mayors and town managers in university communities, and Democrats, too. During the past couple of weeks, all involved began negotiating to find a way to make sure the tens of thousands of out-of-state college students could get vaccinated.

On Thursday, Sununu relented and said, non-residents could get vaccines here.

"Today, we are announcing that, on Monday, April 19th, so that's a week from this Monday, about 10 days from now, New Hampshire will expand eligibility for vaccine to all individuals 16-and-older regardless of residency," Sununu said.

However, no one believed the governor's comments were to be an open door to for people to come here from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, or anywhere else, to get a vaccine.

On Friday, Massachusetts media outlets began reporting, to the surprise of Granite Staters, that Bay Staters should try and get vaccinated in New Hampshire. The Boston Herald sent out a breaking news alert about 24 hours after the news conference to its newsletter saying Massachusetts residents might have better luck getting a vaccine faster in New Hampshire, so give it a try.

Both the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and Sununu's press office confirmed anyone could get a vaccine here so long as they register in the state vaccine system and have some form of identification after booking an appointment, no matter where they reside — even though New Hampshire residents cannot hop over the border to get vaccines if they want to.

Vermont, as an example, on April 30, will open up vaccinations for out-of-state college students and second homeowners, based on supplies — but not other non-residents. In Maine, only residents are allowed to receive the vaccine currently. In Massachusetts, vaccines are available to anyone who "lives, works, or studies" in the state — not just anyone who wants to drive there to get one.

Health officials and Sununu are opening the doors because of the success their initiative has made — 19.5 percent of the state's residents are fully vaccinated, more than 265,000 people, while more than 522,000 have received at least a single dose of vaccine. It is also done with expectation that, sometime in May, the vaccination process will be transitioning from state officials to pharmacies and primary care physicians and doctor's offices, similar to flu shots.

"New Hampshire’s vaccine rollout is moving at an incredible pace," Sununu said in a statement on Friday, "and we are incredibly proud of the fact that our success allows the state to offer the vaccine to any person from anywhere beginning on April 19. New Hampshire is getting the job done."

48-Hour Data Update

Another three people and 1,067 new infections — including 243 children were infected with coronavirus during the past two days, after nearly 23,000 tests were administered.

Most of the new infections, less than two-thirds, were found via polymerase chain reaction tests and most were female, according to the state.

Hillsborough County, not including Nashua, had the most new cases — 253, while 244 new infections live in Rockingham County, 96 live in Merrimack County, and 82 live in Nashua. The state is still trying to find out where 31 cases live.

Three new fatalities were also reported during the past two-days including two men from Rockingham County and a woman from Sullivan County. None were connected to long-term care settings while two were 80 years of age or older and one was in the 70 to 79 age bracket.

The state said more than 1.98 million tests have been administered with more than 50.7 percent of all Granite Staters being tested at least once. One hundred people are hospitalized with confirmed cases.

At colleges and universities, there are 91 active cases — with more than a third of them at UNH in Durham. Magdalen College in Warner has 12 cases, Plymouth State University has 11 cases, and there are 10 at Dartmouth College in Hanover.

In K-12 school settings, there are 215 active cases — including four at Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford, Portsmouth High School, and Exeter High School; three at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School in Portsmouth; two at Souhegan Coop High School in Amherst, Merrimack High School, McKelvie Intermediate School in Bedford, Golden Brook Elementary School in Windham, Concord High School, and Beaver Meadow Elementary School in Concord. More than two-dozen other schools in Patch communities have a single case.

ALSO READ:

• Another COVID-19 Death In New Hampshire, 434 More Cases: Update
• Governor Eliminates Residency Requirement For Vaccinations April 19
• NH Top State For Getting Vaccine Shots In Arms, New Numbers Show
• Holy Week Services At Warner College Lead To Coronavirus Exposure
• Sununu Staffer Tests Positive For Coronavirus: NH Update

Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• When you can't practice 6 feet of social distancing, wear a face covering.
• Anyone who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to not go out to public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic and underlying health conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers should work from home as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that the virus can survive for hours or possibly days on surfaces. People should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts, and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places.
• Wear a face covering.
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Schools, Employers, Employees, and Businesses (Can your employer force you to get the vaccine? It depends).
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Healthcare Providers and Public Health Partners

• Guidance to schools can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.
• To access the state's COVID-19 data dashboard, click on this link here.
• To access the state's COVID-19 Interactive Map Dashboard, click on this link here.

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