DENVER — Coloradans ages 60 and up will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting March 5.

"When you're up, get vaccinated," Polis said. "Don't think twice; don't feel guilty. Sign up and do it ... By getting vaccinated, you're helping to protect the entire community."

Also on March 5, agriculture workers, grocery workers, and Coloradans ages 16-59 with two or more high-risk conditions will be eligible for the vaccine. This will be phase 1B.3, according to the state’s vaccine distribution plan.

In late March—possibly as early as March 21, according to Polis—the state will move to Phase 1B.4. In this phase, anybody ages 50 and up will be able to get the vaccine, Polis said.

Including roughly 960,000 Coloradans, Phase 1B.3 is a large group. Phase 1B.4 is even larger with about 2.5 million Coloradans. State officials urged patience.

“Everybody’s going to get their turn, and we’re excited to move into this phase on March 5,” said CDPHE Incident Commander Scott Bookman. Most grocery workers, Bookman explained, will be able to receive the vaccine at the pharmacies in the grocery store where they work.

"No matter what your age, no matter what your health, you are helping defeat this deadly virus when you step up when it's your turn to get vaccinated," Polis continued.

Colorado is currently in Phase 1B.2 of the statewide vaccine distribution plan. That phase allows for vaccinations for Coloradans between the ages of 65-69 (the 70+ population were included in Phase 1B.1) as well as Pre-K-12 educators and child care providers.

State health officials set a goal of vaccinating 70% of the state’s 70 and up population by the end of February. During the press conference, Polis said he is “confident” the state will meet that goal. As of the time of the press conference, 67% of Colorado’s 70+ population had received their vaccinations.