DENVER — Governor Jared Polis and officials with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) provided more details about the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan in a press conference January 6, including where Coloradans 70 years old and up can sign up for vaccinations.
Polis also extended the statewide mask mandate.
At the time of Governor Polis’ remarks, 129,552 Coloradans had received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine—mostly front line health care workers.
Colorado is currently in Phase 1A of the vaccine plan, which includes vaccinations for health care workers treating COVID-19 patients and vaccinations for the staff and residents of long-term care facilities.
Right before the new year, Polis announced that essential workers—educators, grocery store employees, and postal workers, to name a few groups—would be moved into Phase 1B along with all Coloradans ages 70 and up.
“Vaccines are truly the gateway to saving lives,” Polis said.
Polis in his Wednesday briefing said that the 70+ population makes up about 78% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths and over a third of its hospitalizations. That age group will be prioritized when Colorado makes it to Phase 1B, which Polis and the CDPHE predict will occur on or around January 15.
About 1.3 million Coloradans are included in Phase 1B: