Connecticut pharmacists OK’d to administer COVID-19 vaccine

Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut signed an executive order Monday that empowers licensed pharmacists to administer any COVID-19 vaccine authorized by FDA. The move increases the number of providers sanctioned to perform the service as the state prepares for rollout of its first 16,000 doses from Pfizer. Hospital workers will begin receiving the injections on December 14. An additional 16,000 doses will go to long-term care residents and staff, starting on December 21. “We’ll be making weekly orders going forward, tracking carefully our ability to administer the vaccine, demand for the vaccine, and the supply of the vaccine,” remarked Lamont, who hopes at least 90%–95% of the state’s residents will eventually be vaccinated. The governor took steps in his executive order to remove cost as a barrier, by limiting how much out-of-network providers can charge for COVID-19 vaccine administration.