DENVER (KDVR) — On Wednesday, health officials and Gov. Jared Polis said plans for COVID-19 vaccinations in Colorado include getting 70% of people age 70 and older vaccinated by Feb. 28.
Gov. Polis said in a briefing that Phase 1A on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination timeline should be completed by Jan. 15. This phase includes vaccinating the majority of highest risk health-care workers and the majority of staff and patients at long-term care facilities and skilled nursing facilities.
After Jan. 15, the focus turns to Phase 1B, when the vaccine priority goes to Coloradans age 70 and older, moderate-risk health care workers, first responders, frontline essential workers (including teachers who will start receiving vaccines in early March), and essential government workers.
When Phase 1A ends, an estimated 187,000 Coloradans will have received, at the least, their initial shot of the two-shot COVID-19 vaccination.
How will people 70 and over get their vaccinations? Gov. Polis said half of those vaccinations will come form hospital systems, while 20% will come from community partners and local public health and environment resources (LPHAs); 20% will come from federal qualified centers; and 10% will come from retail pharmacies.
When Phase 1B ends, which is planned for Spring, it’s estimated more than 1.3 million Coloradans will have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine shot.
Gov. Polis said the state of Colorado is receiving about 70,000 vaccines per week and expects that amount could go up with the help of the federal government. To better streamline the vaccination process, Gov. Polis said responsibilities are being divided between local public health organizations and sources from health care systems, including hospitals and pharmacies.
