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Colorado is once again reshaping its coronavirus vaccine distribution plan, this time lining up the elderly and sickest and relocating most of the essential workers who were due to start getting vaccinated next week. .
The major changes, announced by Gov. Jared Polis at a Friday afternoon press conference, will mean people aged 60 to 64 and those aged 16 to 64 with two or more high-risk conditions will be eligible to receive a vaccine when the state moves to phase 1b.3 on March 5.
Previously, people aged 60 to 64 were in phase 2 of Colorado’s vaccine distribution plan.
Grocers and farm workers will also be eligible to receive the vaccine starting next week, when 1b.3 is due to start. It is estimated that around 950,000 people make up the new priority group 1b.3.
Polis also announced on Friday that Coloradans aged 50 and over will have access to the vaccine from the end of March, possibly as early as March 21.
The changes mean there will be a delay, likely several weeks, in receiving the vaccine for thousands of other essential workers who were due to start being vaccinated on March 5. This core worker group – which is now under a newly created phase 1b. 4 – includes people working in manufacturing and mass transit, as well as employees of the United States Postal Service, religious leaders, higher education workers in contact with students, restaurant workers and journalists.
People in phase 1b.4 are now expected to start receiving vaccines on March 21, the governor said, alongside Coloradans 50 and older.
Scott Bookman, the state incident commander, estimates 2.5 million people are in phase 1b.4.
“Since the start of this pandemic, we have approached the process of distributing vaccines fairly, saving the most lives and ending the public health crisis as quickly as possible,” Polis said, explaining the changes.
The governor said essential workers have not moved – even though they are now in a later phase and receive the vaccine at a later date.
“It’s just a consequence of making sure that supply and demand align,” Polis said.
Brig. General Scott Sherman, the Colorado National Guard soldier leading Colorado’s vaccine distribution efforts, said the state expects the White House to announce an increase in vaccine doses next week. sent to states. He believes this will result in larger shipments to Colorado starting in late March or early April.
The Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use as early as this weekend. This means that doses of this vaccine could arrive in Colorado as early as next week.
“Please be patient,” Sherman said. “You will have your turn to get vaccinated.”
Polis said just because someone is eligible “doesn’t mean you can get it in a day or two.”
Polis and Sherman also announced Friday that Colorado plans to open a slew of mass vaccination sites across the state in mid-March to dispense the boost in doses and tackle major phases.
These venues include the Ball Arena in Denver, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, the Grand Junction Convention Center, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, the Ranch Events Complex in Larimer County, and the Pueblo Mall.
People with questions about immunization can call the state’s vaccine hotline at (877) 368-2926.
High-risk conditions that make a person eligible for the vaccine under phase 1b.3 include:
People receiving treatment for cancer or having received treatment in the past monthChronic kidney disease.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Diabetes.Down syndrome.Heart disease, such as heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or coronary artery disease.Obesity.Pregnancy.Sickle cell disease.Organ transplant recipients.People with disabilities who need direct home care.People with disabilities who prevent them from wearing a mask.More than one million Coloradans have received at least a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, including at least 67% of Coloradans aged 70 and over.
About 37% of Coloradans aged 65 to 69 received a first dose, along with about 64% of educators and educators K-12.
Bookman, the incident commander, said the general public will be vaccinated once phase 1b.4 is completed. He doesn’t know when that will be the case.
Polis, however, said the general public in Colorado could have access to the vaccine as early as late April or early May. “We want to end this whole complex phase as soon as possible,” he said.
The governor said there was still a lot of “fertile ground” for the virus to spread if Coloradans allowed it. He called for continued vigilance and caution.
“The journey is not over. The race is not yet won. We have to be very patient, ”Polis said.
The Colorado Sun is a non-partisan, reader-backed news organization dedicated to covering Colorado issues. For more information, visit coloradosun.com.
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