COVID vaccinations could remain available to nearly all patients in Connecticut, despite the Trump administration’s push to limit access, under a series of directives that Gov. Ned Lamont issued on Wednesday.

The conflicting guidelines are leaving confusion about who can get the shots and whether insurance will pay for it.

At Black Rock Pharmacy in Fairfield, a special delivery just arrived – the new COVID vaccine. “People want to get it, and we are going to try to give everyone that wants it,” said pharmacist Derrek Krasnicki. But just who can get the shot is complicated.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only approved the next round of COVID boosters for seniors and people with underlying medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control no longer recommends it for children under two years old and pregnant women.

But the Connecticut Department of Public Health issued very different guidance on Tuesday, recommending COVID vaccinations for everyone more than 6 months old, mirroring the FDA’s previous approval.

“We cannot predict which respiratory viral infection will be most prevalent this season, but we can protect our families against them and potential severe complications by getting vaccinated this fall,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani said.

To clear up confusion, on Wednesday the Lamont administration directed pharmacies to keep offering the vaccine – and state-regulated insurers to keep covering it.

“Our guidance is, go continue to get the COVID vaccine,” Lamont said.

The Connecticut Hospital Association applauded the move.

“We appreciate Gov. Lamont’s commitment to supporting widespread access to vaccinations and commend the state for acting swiftly to reinforce the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine through updated guidance from the Department of Public Health, Department of Consumer Protection and Insurance Department that ensure clarity and access,” CHA said in a statement. “Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools we have to reduce illness and safeguard public health.”

State officials said that major chains like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart have agreed to offer the vaccine to everyone. But some worry that the directives aren’t enough to guarantee access.

“The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently saw its entire board removed, with new board members having histories of opposing vaccines expected to make new recommendations as soon as next week,” said Dr. Saud Anwar, a Democratic state senator from South Windsor.

President Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is a longtime vaccine critic who has promoted unproven conspiracy theories. But the administration insisted they are not restricting access to COVID shots.

“We’ve been very clear that anybody who wants a vaccine can get a vaccine,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told CNN. “There is absolutely no regulatory barrier preventing somebody from getting it whatsoever. Now you can’t get it at every Starbucks, but there is no rule that somebody cannot get it.”

It’s also unclear if insurance will continue coverage for COVID shots, especially if the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices refuses to recommend the new booster. The panel, which Kennedy replaced with vaccine skeptics, meets next week. The state of Connecticut does not regulate most employer-sponsored plans. One dose can cost around $140 out-of-pocket.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency last week to order pharmacies to make COVID vaccinations available. But Lamont told reporters that would be the “absolute last resort.”

“If the pharmacists say that’s not enough for us because we worry about pushback from the feds, we’ll have to revisit that in a week or two,” he said.

In the meantime, Black Rock Pharmacy is asking patients to sign a form attesting that they have an underlying medical condition.

"It's a very gray area so right now we’ve been advised to have people sign an attestation form. They don’t have to provide any proof if they're under 65 that they do have an indication listed,” Krasnicki said. “It is safe; it is effective. If you feel like you need to get vaccinated, you should have the choice to get it.”