COVID vaccines will now be more widely available in Rhode Island this fall and winter with Gov. Massachusetts and Connecticut have taken similar steps to preserve access to the COVID vaccine for all groups recommended by major medical academies. The move follows growing confusion in Rhode Island over who is eligible for the COVID shots and whether insurance will cover them. “We are taking action in Rhode Island to ensure that the public health turmoil at the national level does not affect the ability of Rhode Islanders to access vaccines that keep us healthy and safe,’’ McKee said in a statement. Rhode Islanders who have difficulty accessing the COVID-19 vaccine can contact RIDOH at health.ri.gov or by calling (401) 222-5960.