Bethel plans to open a COVID-19 vaccine clinic by the end of the month, one more residents become eligible under state guidelines. 

First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says 30 of 39 police officers and about half of volunteer firefighters and EMTs have registered to get vaccinated at Danbury Hospital.  The doses started being administered this week and he expects the numbers to climb. 

Senator Chris Murphy visited with town and health officials yesterday to discuss challenges of vaccine distribution.  Murphy says Bethel, in partnership with Redding, is ready for when the next phase starts.  He says the proximity to Danbury Hospital will help with the volume of vaccines. In addition to the town’s clinic, residents should be able to get the vaccine at locations like pharmacies.

State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan and Senators Will Haskell and Julie Kushner also attended the meeting.

(Photo: Will Haskell)

Murphy says vaccine providers are given little information about delivery, and not enough doses are being produced.  He says providers in Connecticut find out on a Friday how much vaccine they’re going to get on a Monday.  Murphy called on the incoming Biden administration to fix that so the state has better long-range planning on vaccine numbers.