SCL Health event aims to vaccinate 5,000 Coloradans at National Western Complex

DENVER — One week after approximately 10,000 Colorado seniors received a vaccine at a UCHealth event at Coors Field, SCL Health is held a mass vaccination event at the National Western Complex.

The event ran from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 6.

While slots were full for Saturday's event, people interested in receiving a vaccine through SCL Health can still register for one online, and they do not have to be an existing patient with the medical group. To register for a vaccine with SCL Health, click here.

According to news reports, SCL had extra doses at the end of the day and reached out to local partners.

SCL Health, which operates hospitals and clinics throughout Colorado and Montana, has partnered with several community organizations and nonprofits in order to reach eligible vaccine recipients in underserved communities. For this vaccination event, SCL Health is working with the Park Hill United Methodist Church, The Center for African American Health, the Senior Hub and The Center on Colfax, to name a few.

“If we focus on the underserved community, that raises the health for our entire community,” Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communication for SCL Health Megan Mahncke said in a recent interview.

Equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has been a top priority for public health officials in Denver, but preliminary data show large disparities in vaccinations on racial lines. According to The Denver Post, “just 8.5% of eligible people in the Latino population have received their first vaccine shot, compared to 78% of the eligible white population.”

There are similar imbalances in the statewide data. The latest figures from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) show that only about 5% of the administered vaccines in Colorado have gone to Hispanic Coloradans, despite the fact that that group makes up approximately 22% of the state’s population. White Coloradans, meanwhile, have received almost 73% of the vaccines so far.

More statewide vaccine data, including demographics, are available here.

Colorado is currently in Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan. Phase 1A, which targeted high risk health care workers as well as residents and staff at long-term care facilities, is largely complete. Phase 1B prioritizes the 70+ population. Governor Polis said the state is on track to meet its goal of vaccinating 70% of the state’s 70+ population by the end of February.

Starting February 8, vaccine eligibility will expand to Coloradans 65 and up as well as teachers and school staff. More vaccine timeline information is available here.

In addition to the mass vaccination event February 6, SCL Health is also allowing people to register for a "rapid on-call list." To be on the list, you must live within 15 minutes of one of SCL Health’s hospitals or clinics that is distributing the vaccine. More information is available here.