Some States Drop CDC Guidelines And Vaccinate People By Age Group

A number of states are breaking with federal guidelines and starting to vaccinate people by age group, drawing criticism from essential workers and people with underlying conditions who are getting bumped back in line.

In Connecticut, officials say they're trying to balance equity with speeding up the pace of vaccinations. Under a new vaccination plan that began on March 1, educators are still prioritized but essential workers like grocers, security officers and janitors, who would have been next in line, now have to wait until their age group comes up.

"I am very excited honestly," said Missy Giandurco, 41, who teaches eighth-grade special education. "It's been a very stressful year and the governor made the right choice by moving it forward a little faster."

Someone who's not excited is DeShawn Brownell. His job as a security guard doesn't allow him to social distance. Under the previous plan he would have been in the next group to be vaccinated but he's 46-years-old and he'll have to wait.

"I'm disappointed. I'm a little bit younger, but at the same time, I have epilepsy. I have high blood pressure," said Brownell. "What if something happens to me? I'm the one with the main income. It would affect my kids, wife, and my outside family, like my mom, my dad. It's like a domino effect."

Three other states have also adopted age-based prioritizations, as they transition to subsequent phases of their vaccine rollouts. In Maine, people 60 and older have been able to register for a vaccine since March 3. Rhode Island is moving to an age-based system but still prioritizing people with underlying medical conditions between 16 and 64 years of age. And beginning March 8, Vermont will allow people 55 and older with specific high-risk health conditions to register, and extend eligibility a week later to people 16 and older with certain medical conditions. ...