Connecticut COVID-19 Response

Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccination

Eligibility, and Requirements

When will I be able to receive a COVID-19 Vaccine? 
Information about eligibility and timeline can be found at ct.gov/covidvaccine/access. We do not expect that a vaccine will be widely available to the general public until late summer or the fall of 2021.  

Who is and isn’t in Phase 1a? 
Information about who falls into each phase of the vaccine at this time can be found at ct.gov/covidvaccine/access. It’s important to remember that vaccination access and information changes quickly, so please check back frequently for the most up-to-date information. 

Is the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory? 
No.  The State of Connecticut is not mandating vaccination.  

I am a healthcare provider seeing patients via telehealth and want to get back to in person visits. Can I get the vaccine as part of 1a to get back to the office sooner? 
No. 

Getting the Vaccine

Where do I go for a vaccination? 

When you are eligible for a vaccination, you will most likely work through your physician, or the employer coordinator at your workplace to learn about the specifics of your eligibility requirements. Vaccines will be able to be administered in a wide range of places: physician’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers, and other locations that would normally administer vaccinations. 

How much vaccine is CT getting? 

Vaccination amounts are being allocated on a per capita basis by the federal government, and updates about numbers will be released on an on-going basis.  

What is the timeline for the state to make vaccine available?

Vaccines will start to become available quickly after the required Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) are in place. We expect to receive roughly 180,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of the calendar year. We are currently in Phase 1a, and expect Phase 1b to begin in the first quarter of 2021 – hopefully as soon as January, depending upon the supply of vaccine. There may be some overlap between phases as new populations are made eligible even as groups in the first phase continue to receive vaccination.

I have staff that I believe qualify as healthcare and critical workforce, how do I get them vaccinated? 

Information about how to ensure your staff are vaccine can be found at ct.gov/covidvaccine/employers. 

Is there a difference between the vaccinations that I can take? 
There are only small differences, but both vaccines currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are highly effective based on trials. Below, you’ll see some basic details about both.  

Do I get to choose which vaccine brand I want to receive? 
In general, given scarce supply, only one vaccine may be available through your provider. You can talk with your medical provider if you have specific questions or concerns that may lead you to want to seek out one specific COVID-19 vaccine versus another.  

How do I know when to schedule my second vaccination? 
Most providers will ask you to schedule your first and second vaccination at the same time, and will help you set up reminders via text, email, or phone call about your second dose.  

What if I miss my second shot? 
You should talk to your provider about what next steps you need to take if you miss an appointment for your second vaccination. You will likely be able to get your second vaccination within a short time period of the recommended date, and it will remain effective.  

Can people who have already have COVID-19 get the vaccine? 
Yes.  The CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19 because you can catch it more than once.  While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection will last. 

How do we know the vaccines are safe? 
The Pfizer vaccine alone had a trial of over 40,000 people over a period of many months without any serious incidents. No vaccines will be available to the public without the review of the federal government and the Science Subcommittee of Governor Lamont’s Vaccine Advisory Group. In Connecticut, we continue to make every decision with public health as a number one priority.  

Since the vaccine is so new, how do you know there won’t be long term health effects from taking it? 
Because all COVID-19 vaccines are new, it will take more time and more people getting vaccinates to learn about very rare or possible long-term effects.  At least 8 weeks’ worth of safety data were gathered in the clinical trials for all the authorized vaccines and it’s unusual for vaccine side effects to appear more than 8 weeks after vaccination. 

My relative is in a nursing home, can I visit once the residents are vaccinated? 
You should continue to follow guidelines released by the Department of Public Health. While you or your family member may be vaccinated, you may come into others who are not, so it is critical to continue to use caution. 

If I’m vaccinated, can I visit family in the hospital or nursing home? 
You should continue to follow guidelines released by the Department of Public Health. While you or your family member may be vaccinated, you may come into others who are not, so it is critical to continue to use caution. 

Am I going to be required to carry verification that I’ve been vaccinated? 
No. Although your provider will make sure that their records reflect you have received vaccine in order to most effectively treat you in the future.  

Once I’m vaccinated, can I stop wearing a mask and social distancing? 
No. Not everyone you come into contact with will have received the vaccine, and you may still be able to spread COVID-19. It is critical to follow basic public health best practices for the foreseeable future.