LYME/OLD LYME — This Vaccine Update was issued by Ledge Light Health Department (LLHD) Director of Health Stephen Mansfield this morning. We felt it would be helpful to our readers to publish it in its entirety:
Vaccine providers continue to focus on the 75+ population (along with any remaining Phase 1a individuals). Vaccine supply shortages and challenges with registration systems continue to demand we exercise patience, but in this week’s update we do have some positive movement.
Last week we shared that more providers are coming on-line and appointments are starting to open up. This Monday Yale New Haven Health System launched a mass vaccination site at Mitchell College (appointments required!) and on Tuesday the CVS in Waterford began offering appointments.
In addition, some eligible people are hearing directly from their healthcare providers regarding available appointments. This expanded access is good news.
We know that many continue to struggle with navigating the electronic registration systems or the long wait lines on the State phone hotline; there is also a lack of support/access to local appointments for people with limited English proficiency or literacy.
This week the Department of Public Health authorized local health departments to submit a plan for transitioning out of using the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). LLHD is working furiously to finish our submission for approval so that we can begin using a system that:
- Is easier for people to navigate
- Offers access to appointment via phone
- Can be made available in English and Spanish
As our system will meet all reporting requirements, we anticipate swift approval and will alert you all when our new system is ‘live.’ ** We will publish details of the new system on LymeLine.com as soon as it is approved.**
You may continue to get calls from eligible folks who have appointments that are not scheduled until March, or who say they are facing challenges securing a 2nd dose appointment. The message again is ‘patience’.
Please continue checking as new appointments are continuously being added to the system. As a reminder, the 2nd dose may be given later than but not earlier than the 21-day (Pfizer) or 28-day (Moderna) guidelines.
Ledge Light Health District continues to work to support the individuals and communities we serve by collecting and connecting resources, providing education and support, providing vaccines (limited in number due to low supply), and advocating for appointment systems to be simpler and accessible in multiple languages and formats.
We will update this memo with new information as it comes out.
Contact Director of Health Stephen Mansfield at 860.867.7962 or Deputy Director Jennifer Muggeo at 860.912.1429 with any questions.