[ad_1]
DENVER – Colorado will expand access to vaccines to people aged 60 to 64 starting March 5, Governor Jared Polis said at a press conference on Friday.
Expanded Access – known as Phase 1B.3 – also includes workers in agricultural processing plants, grocery store workers, and Coloradans aged 16 to 59 with two or more comorbidities.
Co-morbidities include cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Scott Bookman, COVID-19 Incident Commander for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, estimates that 958,000 people will be in Phase 1B.3, including 200,000 grocery store workers and 400,000 people aged 16 to 59 years old with comorbidities.
The state also hopes to make the vaccine available to those 50 and over by the end of March, a phase known as 1B.4. Essential workers such as postal workers, higher education professors, religious leaders and direct homeless care providers will be among those eligible for phase 1B.4.
Polis on Friday announced a target date of March 21 for vaccine access for people aged 50 and over, although that may change depending on supply.
Polis also reiterated: All Coloradans 65 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine now and can make an appointment to receive a dose.
Polis said about 67% of Coloradans 70 and older had received a dose of the vaccine; Colorado’s goal was to vaccinate 70% of Coloradans aged 70 and over by the end of February. Vaccination events are taking place this weekend, including one in Thornton, which still had 1,700 spots available on Friday afternoon.
Polis strongly encouraged all eligible Coloradans to register for the vaccine. Coloradans can visit cocovidvaccine.org for information on how to register for the vaccine.
With access to job-specific vaccines until the end of March, Polis estimated that access to vaccines to the general public could take place as early as late April or early May, depending on supply.
Colorado Brigadier Gen. Scott Sherman, who coordinates vaccine distribution in the state, said Colorado’s supply is expected to receive a major boost once the use of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine will be approved. Colorado is expected to receive about 400,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the end of March, Sherman said, if 20 million doses are available nationwide.
Sherman said the state is awaiting an announcement from the White House next week on the planned increase in vaccine supply.
Polis has warned Coloradans to stay safe, despite an increase in vaccine distribution. The governor did not say whether he would extend the last statewide mask term when it expires next week, but he urged the Coloradans to wear a mask anyway.
“The journey is not over, the race is not over yet,” said Polis. “We must continue to be patient.”
[ad_2]
Source link