Women's Equality Day

August 26, 2021
Today is National Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. Today we celebrate the great strides we have made, in Connecticut and throughout the country, and reflect on the continued fight for gender equality and women’s rights.
During the 2021 legislative session, I worked alongside my colleagues to pass bills that help women in the workforce. Women continue to earn less than their male counterparts in the workplace and face a significant disadvantage in salary negotiations. We passed Public Act 21-30 to offer salary range transparency for vacant position and help close the gender wage gap in Connecticut.

COVID-19 also illuminated the tremendous need for affordable and accessible childcare. Public Act 21-171 offers more affordable childcare options by offering a childcare subsidy for parents in job training and education programs, expands Care4Kids, and establishes a pilot program for new childcare entrepreneurs.

 

Full FDA Approval for Pfizer Vaccine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine full approval today, becoming the first vaccine to receive complete authorization following a comprehensive review by the agency, using the extensive data provided as well as conducting their own analyses.

The vaccine, which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will now be marketed as Comirnaty. It is FDA-approved for anyone 16 years of age and older for the prevention of COVID-19.  The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

Today's announcement is likely welcomed news for those in Connecticut and nationwide who have been somewhat skeptical about the vaccine, that despite its success rate, was being administered under the FDA's emergency use authorization.

As of today, 2.32 million – or 65.1 percent – of Connecticut residents have been vaccinated. While this is certainly better than other states, we can and must do better. Now is the time!

To find out how to get a COVID-19 vaccine, click here. If you need to find a vaccine provider near you, please click here.