CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen visited the Fair Haven Community Health Care Center in New Haven Thursday to emphasize the need for Connecticut residents to get vaccines.
Dr. Cohen said RSV, the flu and a new COVID-19 variant will be circulating this fall. She is encouraging people to get the new COVID-19 booster and not worry about the cost.
Any costs associated with getting shot should be covered by private insurance and the federal government due to the CDC’s Bridge program which ensures equitable access for uninsured individuals or families.
Anyone is eligible to get vaccinated for free through the Bridge Program at retail pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens.
Dr. Cohen said when it comes to the overall health of the U.S. we’re in a much better position than we were in 2020, or even in the last year.
“About 97% of us have either gotten COVID before or we've been vaccinated. But folks forget that that protection decreases over time. By getting this updated vaccine, now, it allows your body to be in the best fighting shape,” Cohen said.
Dr. Manisha Juthani, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Health, said Connecticut residents have been experiencing appointment cancellations and COVID vaccine shortages but several purchase orders have just been approved.
Juthani said vaccines and appointments should become more available to the general public, including children ,in the next couple weeks.
“We’ve been working with our pediatricians in our Connecticut vaccine program to make sure all children are covered in the state,” Juthani said. “Pediatric providers who may not have been ordering COVID vaccines before now are learning again how to do that with all the other vaccines that they normally order.”
Cohen said the new process of ordering Covid-19 boosters is more dependent on the private sector for vaccine rollout.
“Supply is improving,” Juthani said.
As more time passes, she said that the new vaccine should be easier to get, as supply becomes more available.
