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As Seniors Begin To Get Vaccinated, Bridgeport Is Down A Health Director

A Hartford HealthCare worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine
Ryan Caron King
/
Connecticut Public
A Hartford HealthCare worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine

Bridgeport has lost its top health official as the state battles COVID-19’s second wave. This hour, we talk with Connecticut Post reporter Brian Lockhart about the vacancy in the health department of the state’s largest city.

And later, some Connecticut residents over the age of 75 will receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. Does Connecticut have the right tools in place to reach seniors?

We talk with Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford, and we hear from AARP Connecticut.

What questions do you have about signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine?

Residents 75+ can register for an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Links to schedule an appointment online are listed on the state's website here. Residents can also call the state's CT COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist line at 877-918-2224, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

GUESTS:

  • Brian Lockhart - Reporter covering Bridgeport for the Connecticut Post and Hearst Connecticut newspapers
  • Nora Duncan - State director for AARP Connecticut
  • Dr. Deidre Gifford - Acting Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Commissioner of Department of Social Services

Cat Pastor contributed to this show.

Lucy leads Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.
Carmen Baskauf was a producer for Connecticut Public Radio's news-talk show Where We Live, hosted by Lucy Nalpathanchil from 2017-2021. She has also contributed to The Colin McEnroe Show.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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