Weekly Updates with Aimee

update
February 11, 2021
Today, all adults over the age of 65 are eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine. Below, you'll find instructions on how to sign-up for a vaccination and schedule an appointment.

Please note* There are multiple avenues for scheduling appointments that can be found through the Department of Public Health website, Connecticut's reservation phone line, and local health providers. I have included links and phone numbers below for multiple vaccine distributors, but please note that it is not an exhaustive list. 
How to Sign Up With VAMS

The state’s

 Vaccine Administration Management System is now open for registration. Those over the age of 65, or their loved ones, are asked to submit applications through the online web portal then. When accepted into the registration portal, they will receive emails informing them how to proceed in scheduling an appointment.
Register Now
How to Sign Up By Phone

In addition to VAMS, the Connecticut Department of Public Health also operates a phone line with over 125 specialists standing by to help schedule vaccination appointments. If you are having difficulty using the online sign-up, you can call 877-918-2224 anytime between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, seven days a week. 
Other Health Providers

In addition to these centralized sign-up options, many health providers are also offering vaccine appointments via their own scheduling systems. You may want to consider reaching out to one of these providers to find an appointment that is convenient for you. 

Yale New Haven Health
Sign up online

 here, or call 1-833-ASK-YNHH (275-9644)

CVS Health (Limited Locations)
Sign up online

 here, or call 1-800-679-9691.

Walgreens (Limited Locations)
Sign up online

 here, or call 1-800-925-4733

Stamford Health
Sign-up online

here, or call 203-276-7300.

Hartford Healthcare
Sign-up online

 here, or call 860-827-7690.

Finally, I know that teachers, other essential workers and those with an underlying health condition are understandably frustrated that they are not yet eligible for a vaccine. Please know that Connecticut stands ready to administer many more doses than we are currently receiving from the federal government, and I remain hopeful that supplies will increase in the coming weeks.
Yesterday, Governor Lamont has presented a two-year state budget to the legislature. The proposal marks the first step in the budget process. From here, the legislature and its committees will review the proposed budget and make changes. There will also be a public hearing on the “budget bill”. The process will take several months to develop the 2021-2023 state budget.
In the coming weeks, the legislature's Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees review the proposal and schedule public hearings on spending and revenues. You can keep track of when these public hearings take place by visiting the committee pages on the Connecticut General Assembly website.
Appropriations Committee
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
After the public hearings, Appropriations develops a revised budget which is then passed out of the committee. This usually happens in April. At the same time, the Finance Committee will determine if there should be any changes to the bill's revenue package.
 
Legislative leaders, typically in consultation with the Office of the Governor and the Office of Policy and Management, work to develop a final budget bill. During this time, any number of changes may be made to the budget through bipartisan negotiations.
 
The budget bill then goes before the House and Senate. Each chamber must pass the same exact version of the budget in order for the bill to move on to the next step in the process.
 
After being passed by both chambers, the legislature’s final budget must then be signed into law by the governor before the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
 
I hope you follow along as my legislative colleagues and I work, along with the public, to develop a budget that will continue to move Connecticut forward.
Just Gimme a Minute

If you didn't catch this week's "Just Gimme a Minute," please click the button below:

"This week in Hartford - Public hearings are underway in a number of committees and COVID vaccine eligibility expands tomorrow with the addition of people 65 and older."
Watch Just Gimme a Minute
Please reach out, please be well, and be safe.