Governor Ned Lamont said the first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could be administered in Connecticut as soon as Tuesday, once the FDA gives emergency authorization for its use.
“We hope to get the green light, the emergency authorization. Shipments would begin hopefully soon thereafter. We are counting on Monday, Tuesday," Lamont said.
Lamont said hospital workers would be the first to be vaccinated followed by nursing home staff and residents.
Pfizer is to ship the vaccine directly to Connecticut hospitals.
State officials anticipate that more than 230,000 residents would be vaccinated within the first month.
Meanwhile, Lamont has a plan to convince Connecticut residents to be vaccinated.
A national Quinnipiac poll finds that only 61 percent of people are willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Lamont said in Connecticut he’d like to get that number up to 80 percent. He plans to do that by having community leaders at the front of the line for the vaccine.
“Maybe some of the lead docs get the vaccination. Maybe a couple of the leading political people get the vaccine early on. We are certainly talking to the ministers, getting into the religious communities, doing everything we can to reinforce how important it is for you and your community to get vaccinated," Lamont said.
The Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 978 self-identified registered voters across the country. It was conducted in early December. And has an error rate of plus or minus three percentage points.
