According to a notice issued Tuesday, December 22, the Newtown Health District is in the planning stages for COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Health District Director Donna Culbert stated in the release that the ability to vaccinate local residents will depend upon the amount of vaccine that will be allotted and who the vaccine priority groups will be at that time.

“Everybody won’t be first, but we’re moving forward as responsibly as possible,” Culbert told The Newtown Bee. “We are awaiting further information and guidance from the CDC and CT Department of Public Health to solidify and implement our plans.”

The release explained that Connecticut is in Phase 1a of COVID-19 vaccine distribution which includes healthcare personnel, long term care residents, and first responders at risk of exposure.

The State of Connecticut directs the prioritization and timeline for vaccine rollout and will inform the Health District when doses will be available for the general/categorized public, slated for between late January and May.

“When we receive this information from the State of Connecticut, the Health District will update our website with instructions and the timeline for the delivery of vaccines,” Culbert stated in the release. “We will also share instructions for scheduling an appointment at a Health District clinic or at other potential locations.”

Connecticut is currently in Phase 1a. Those eligible for vaccine are:

Healthcare Personnel: All paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients of infectious materials.

Long Term Care Facility Residents: Adults who reside in facilities that provide a range of services, including medical and personal care, to persons who are unable to live independently.

First Responders at risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their response to medical emergencies such as Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, and Fire.

Phase 1a does not include healthcare personnel that do not have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infections materials. For example, the state says if you are providing telehealth services and do not currently work in a healthcare setting providing in person care, you are not be eligible for vaccine in phase 1a.

Employers Complete Survey

Employers are responsible for ensuring that only employees who fit the criteria are scheduled to receive the vaccine.

In order to make vaccine available to staff members, the following steps should be taken:

*One representative (referred to as the “Employer Coordinator”) from each organization that employs populations eligible to receive vaccine in early access phases should complete a survey by visiting https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/VAMSEnrollment.

*The representative should be an individual who has access to a roster of eligible personnel within their organization (e.g., healthcare personnel for Phase 1a).

*Completing this survey will prompt an e-mail to be sent from the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) so the employer coordinator can register the organization. The e-mail will not come immediately, as verification may take 24-48 hours.

*Once registered, the coordinator can upload a roster which allows eligible personnel to schedule a vaccination appointment once supply is available. The employer coordinator will also be invited to attend a training covering VAMS as well as enabling vaccine access for your workforce.

Distribution to individuals who will be eligible for vaccination in upcoming phases between January and May has not been finalized, but the state DPH anticipates it will include critical workforce, other congregate settings, adults over 65, and high risk individuals under 65.

No decisions have yet been made about the prioritization of individuals beyond Phase 1a, the CT DPH states on its website. “Our decisions about priority order for Phase 1b and beyond will be made based on ACIP guidelines, our State’s allocation subcommittee advice, and ultimately the decision of the Governor,” the site says.

Culbert and First Selectman Dan Rosenthal both told The Newtown Bee they were already aware that other communities including neighboring Brookfield have put up pages or solicitations to gather information from their residents.

Rosenthal suggested that may have been slightly premature and may not have been as helpful as intended, since issues like maintaining data security, protecting personal health information being requested, and exactly how the first limited rounds of vaccines would be prioritized for distribution were still all unclear as those sites went live earlier this week.

“We have not done that yet as it will be more productive for you, the resident, and for our staff to wait for more specific guidelines and directives,” Culbert added in the Health District release. “This will allow us to gather the most appropriate information in an effective and safe way and to best manage everyone’s expectations. We expect that to happen soon.”

Suggestions For Residents

In the meantime, Culbert suggests local health district members and Newtown residents:

*Review your communication pathways and how you receive information. The Health District will continue to communicate its plans and directions through the town’s News and Announcements, the town website, the Senior Center and the Community Center, The Newtown Bee, and other community partners who help each other get messages out.

Culbert stressed that any resident who already has a primary healthcare provider should start any vaccine inquiries with them.

“Your Health Care Provider knows you best,” she stated.

If you have underlying health conditions or are immune-compromised, Culbert advised residents to reach out to their health care provider to learn if they have specific information or instruction related to individual heath concerns.

She also stressed that residents should, if anything, step-up their regiments of personal protection, as it will take many months before the vaccine begins impacting widespread coronavirus positivity.

And of course, as residents begin qualifying, they should along with their own health provider, make plans to get the vaccine once they are qualified to do so.

“We will be doing this for awhile,” the local health official said, “so self protective behavior — distancing, face covering, and disinfecting — remains really important.”

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, visit: portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/covid-19%20vaccinations.