State Capitol Update For The Week Of October 25

October 28, 2021

There’s lots of healthcare related news in this newsletter (these days that’s not unusual), so I thought I’d start off with a quick plug to get your flu shot this year, if that’s appropriate for you.  I got mine today at Kent Station Pharmacy, which also is offering COVID vaccination (including booster shots) and COVID testing.  The various COVID protocols put in place over the last year – masking, social distancing, hand washing – were very effective at limiting (even eliminating) the seasonal flu, which usually makes its way around the world each year.  That’s generally good news, but it does mean that we probably have fewer immunities this year, so, again, if it’s appropriate for you, consider getting your flu shot. 
 
Several community conversations with Nuvance regarding the plans for Sharon Hospital will take place over the next couple of weeks.  The next forum is on November 5 at 1:00 pm, when elected officials from Connecticut and New York will be meeting with Nuvance officials, including hospital President Dr. Mark Hirko, Chief Nursing Officer Christina McCullough, and Dr. Mark Marshall.  You can watch the meeting live by using the Zoom link posted on the Sharon town website.  For more information, see that section in the newsletter. 
 
With municipal elections around the corner on Tuesday, November 2, Torrington and Kent both held debates this week for the position of chief elected official.  Both debates were substantive and engaging, and provided the public with a great opportunity to learn more about what the candidates see as the priorities of the office they seek, in a format that allows for balanced comparison that social media often actively distorts. 
 
Debates can be hard to organize: first you have to get all of the candidates to agree to show up, and sometimes candidates make tactical decisions that it’s not in their interest to participate, which is unfortunate.  Then you have to agree on a set of rules, and here’s where you need a third party that everyone can rely upon to be fair, evenhanded, and transparent.  The League of Women Voters (LWV) has been that organization in our region. They moderated both of the debates I attended this week, and they did a terrific service to the voters in the way they carried out their tasks. 

Unfortunately, this week in Kent they had to do more than just moderate the debate. Before the debate, they also had to actively enforce the COVID safety rules that all parties had agreed to, in the face of aggressive and intimidating behavior by a few people who showed up at the venue and decided the rules did not apply to them. A huge thank you to the LWV, for all of their work this year, in past years, and hopefully for many years in the future, for ensuring voters have access to good information before they vote. 

Here’s a list of today’s topics:

  • COVID Data. Click here. 
  • Roundtable Discussion for Sharon Hospital. Click here.
  • Vaccine for 5-11 Year Old Update. Click here.
  • Vaccination Clinics in Falls Village and North Canaan. Click here. 
  • Update on Executive Branch State Employee Compliance. Click here. 
  • Access Health Update. Click here. 
  • Child Care For Connecticut Campaign. Click here. 
  • THANKSgiving X 365.Click here. 

COVID Data 

For graphs and tables containing COVID data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”

Roundtable Discussions with Nuvance on plans for Sharon Hospital
 
There are currently three upcoming public discussions scheduled at which Nuvance executives will address their proposed plans for Sharon Hospital. 
 
The first will take place on November 5 at 1:00 pm, when elected officials from Connecticut and New York will meet at Sharon Town Hall with Sharon Hospital President Dr. Mark Hirko, Chief Nursing Officer Christina McCullough, and Dr. Mark Marshall.  To watch this meeting live, you can log into the Zoom link here, or go the Sharon town website where the link will be posted.  It will also be recorded so that that you can watch it at your convenience.  Note that the purpose of this meeting is to give elected officials the opportunity to ask detailed questions of Nuvance, so we will likely not be able to field questions from the Zoom audience at this meeting.  If you have questions you would like to be asked at this meeting, please email them to me, or to your First Selectman (if you live in one of the towns listed below) at the following addresses:

 
Two additional in-person roundtable discussions will be held on November 9 and November 18, at which community members will be able to ask questions and provide feedback on the plans. The sessions will meet at the following locations and are limited to no more than 15 people, in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols. Advance registration is required on a first come, first served basis. Masks are required and social distancing will be enforced.
 
Because of the limited capacity available, community members are respectfully requested to register for only one session. 

Meeting dates are as follows:

  • Tuesday, November 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Sharon Town Hall, 63 Main Street, Sharon, Conn.

 

  • Thursday, November 18, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at the Interlaken Inn, located at 74 Interlaken Road, Lakeville, Conn.

 
To register, email SharonHospital@NuvanceHealth.org or call (845) 554-1734 with your name and phone number (TTY/Accessibility: (800) 842-9710).
Community members are encouraged to visit www.nuvancehealth.org/sharonhospitaltransformation for the latest updates on the plan, including a recording of the September 29 Community Update presentation.

To ask questions or schedule an additional small group conversation to discuss our plans, please email SharonHospital@NuvanceHealth.org.
 
Connecticut Department of Public Health provides information about COVID vaccines for 5 to 11-year-old children: Roll-out expected to begin next week
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) independent advisory group on Tuesday recommended that the Pfizer-BioNTech application for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 through 11 be approved. Currently, only children 12-years-and-older are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health anticipates several additional authorization activities to follow shortly:
 

  • In the next days, the FDA will likely accept these recommendations and issue an EUA for the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 through 11
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) independent advisory group, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet on November 2 and 3 to issue its own independent recommendations related to the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 through 11
  • The CDC Director will likely accept the ACIP’s recommendations
  • If all recommendations and approvals go smoothly, Connecticut will begin administration of COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 through 11 on Thursday, November 4.

 
The expected approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 marks a major step forward in the overall COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. An authorized vaccine for nearly all school-aged children will help keep schools open and safe. Although children generally have mild cases of COVID-19, some do get sick.
 
Ensuring high rates of vaccine coverage among all school-aged children will have many benefits. Vaccinated children are not required to quarantine if exposed to the virus, high rates of coverage can also help to reduce rates of transmission within school settings, and vaccinating children provides another layer of protection for their families and the broader community.
 
Children and families will have many options for where to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including:
 

  • Pediatricians: Hundreds of pediatricians will be administering COVID-19 vaccines across Connecticut. However, not all pediatricians will have the COVID-19 vaccine, so if your child’s provider doesn’t offer the COVID-19 vaccine, please refer to one of the other options provided.
  • Pharmacies: There will be hundreds of pharmacy locations that are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to children, including many CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid, and other pharmacy chains across the state as well as independent pharmacies. Pharmacies provide a safe, convenient, and easy location to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Pharmacies have rolled out specialized trainings for their pharmacist staff to provide vaccines for younger children.
  • School-based clinics: The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Connecticut State Department of Education are collaborating to offer on-site clinics at schools across the State of Connecticut. These will either be led by school-based health centers or special mobile teams that are specifically trained to offer vaccines for younger children. Information about such clinics will be provided by schools or districts directly.
  • Other locations: In addition to the above, several health systems and local health departments will be offering COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.

 
Everyone is encouraged to visit ct.gov/covidvaccine to learn more. You can also use that website to search for a convenient location near you to find a vaccine for your child.
 
In addition, the Connecticut Department of Public Health reminds everyone that if you are 12 and older, you are currently eligible and highly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if you have not already. Roughly 90% of Connecticut’s population 12-and-older has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and this high rate of coverage is what has allowed Connecticut to stay open and stay safe.
 
In addition, people are encouraged to review the latest information about booster doses. Everyone 65 and older and everyone who received the J&J vaccine should receive a COVID-19 booster dose. In addition, many individuals aged 18 to 64 who received Pfizer or Moderna are also eligible to receive a booster.
 
 
Vaccination clinics in Falls Village and North Canaan

Two upcoming FREE vaccination clinics being held at Housatonic Valley Regional High School:

In addition, the Town of North Canaan will be hosting a FREE Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, November 6, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

All three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, will be available.  All boosters will also be available. Below is some specific information regarding boosters:
For individuals who received an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna)

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

For individuals who received a J&J vaccine
For individuals who received a J&J vaccine, booster shots are recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. This means that all individuals who received a J&J vaccine should receive a booster.

Mixing & Matching (heterologous series)
Both the FDA and CDC support individuals to receive a booster dose that is a different vaccine type than they originally received for their primary series if they choose. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
 
 
Update on Executive Branch state employee compliance with COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements
  
Overall compliance remains high with 95% of employees fully vaccinated or current in their weekly testing. When including those who are temporarily out of compliance due to incomplete or late testing result submissions and are in the process of becoming compliant, that percentage increases to more than 99%.
 
The overall vaccination rate is currently 80.8%. That is an increase from the most recent update on October 7, when the overall vaccination rate was 78.5%.
 
Access Health Open Enrollment Begins November 1

Good news! If you are looking for good, quality, healthcare the annual Access Health CT Open Enrollment Period begins this Monday, November 1 and runs through January 15, 2022. Residents can shop, compare, and enroll in health insurance coverage for the 2022 plan year.

To ensure your coverage starts on January 1, 2022, residents must enroll and complete their application by December 15, 2021. You can still enroll between December 16, 2021 and January 15, 2022 and apply for coverage that will start on February 1, 2022.  
 
Starting this year, Connecticut residents who meet specific eligibility requirements may be able to pay $0 for their health insurance coverage through Access Health CT. This is thanks to the state’s new Covered Connecticut Program. If you qualify, the state will pay your portion of your monthly premium directly to your insurance company and will also pay for certain cost-sharing amounts, such as deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket costs. To learn more about the Covered Connecticut Program, including eligibility requirements click here.
 
There are several ways Connecticut residents can get free help with enrollment, including:

  • In-person: There are in-person enrollment locations and events taking place across Connecticut. Find more information at accesshealthct.com/enrollment-events/.
  • Online: Visit accesshealthct.com. You can learn more about the different plans and find free help online using the "live chat" feature.
  • By phone: Call 1-855-805-4325. Help is available Monday - Friday, 8:00 am- 5:00 pm. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1- 855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
  • Work with a Broker: To find a Certified Broker or Enrollment Specialist, visit accesshealthct.com/get-help/

 
If you or your family need quality, affordable healthcare please don't miss this opportunity. Learn more at accesshealthct.com.

Child Care for Connecticut Campaign
 
The Office of Early Childhood is helping launch a state wide campaign to reshape, reimagine, and grow childcare for Connecticut’s parents.  Now is the time to build sustained public support for high quality, affordable child care for kids of all ages that is available to every family who needs it, in the setting of their choice, provided by well-trained and properly compensated early educators. 
 
To join in the conversation on Wednesday, November 3 from 6:30-7:30 pm, register for the webinar by scanning the code below. 

Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program THANKSgiving X 365
 
The Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program celebrates the spirit of giving with its annual THANKSgiving x 365 Campaign for Meals on Wheels.  You can help provide nutritious meals and daily social contact to more than 400 homebound seniors throughout Litchfield County.  For more information, call (860) 482-4151 with questions on how to help.
 
 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.