Yesterday, January 19, Governor Jared Polis provided an update on Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an overview of Colorado’s incoming supply of vaccines from the federal government. The full 29-minute video is posted below.
Currently, 1 out of every 105 Coloradans is contagious with the virus, which is much improved from 1 out of every 40. And over the weekend, for the first time in a while, Colorado has dipped below a 5% positivity rate for new cases.
“This is very exciting news, but it means we need to keep up the good work and do what we can to keep ourselves and each other safe… Tragically, [on Tuesday] we surpassed 400,000 deaths in the United States, reminding us that this pandemic is not over and too many Americans continue paying the ultimate price.”
For many Coloradans, especially those 70 and older, there continue to be questions around how and where they can get the vaccine.
“From day one, the State’s focus in distributing the vaccine has been to save the most lives and end the public health crisis as soon as possible. That’s why Colorado’s COVID-19 vaccine plan prioritizes our frontline health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities, but also why we set the ambitious goal of vaccinating 70% of Coloradans 70 and older by February 28…
“We are using every vaccine that we get, in our state, every week. No doses are sitting on shelves. We are constrained by the amount of doses that we get from the federal government each week. We will use every dose. And that means that it’s going to take us until the end of February at current supply levels to get everyone who wants it, over the age of 70, vaccinated.
“We’re hoping that supplies increase. If they will, it’ll happen faster. But we do have that degree of confidence that, if you are over 70, you will be able to get the vaccine by the end of February…”
Colorado expects to receive this week:
- 42,120 Pfizer first doses
- 41,640 Moderna first doses
…for a total of 83,760 first doses for the week of January 18-25.
Colorado will administer:
- Approximately 95,600 second doses of the Moderna vaccine
- 15,210 second doses of the Pfizer vaccine
…during the week of January 18-25.
The State will take every opportunity to get more vaccines into communities, recognizing that it will be months before the majority of Colorado has access.
“Throughout the process of vaccinating Coloradans in Phases 1A and 1B, the State has emphasized the importance of moving vaccines off shelves and getting them into arms. Today, we find ourselves in a situation where, because of the large quantities of first doses we received over the Christmas and New Years’ holidays, we now have about 40,000 doses set aside to be used as second doses, which were not scheduled to be used in the immediate future.”
Governor Polis sent a letter to providers and Local Public Health Agencies directing them to use both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, designated as second doses, to now be used as first doses for Coloradans ages 70 and older during the week of January 18-25.
You can read the FAQ here.
Every dose counts, and this additional 40,000 doses is a big step toward reaching our goals and protecting one of our highest-risk populations:
- The State will backfill additional second doses as needed in future weeks from the future supply. Providers should retain only enough second doses that are required for this week.
- As Coloradans ages 70 and older make up nearly 80% of COVID related deaths in our state, we will pursue every available avenue to get them vaccinated sooner.
The Governor has emphasized that this is not a change in policy but a one-time course of action to utilize these second doses that would not have been immediately used otherwise.
The State is thankful for all of the providers and Local Public Health Agencies in every corner of Colorado who have had to be nimble throughout the pandemic, especially during the vaccine distribution process. Colorado would not be seeing so much success in vaccine distribution without their hard work and preparedness that saves both time and lives.