Colorado Vaccine Distribution: Counties Offered More Guidance

Colorado has issued further guidance for its vaccine distribution plan, a week after Gov. Jared Polis announced that people ages 70 and older and some front-line workers would be moved into Phase 1B of the plan.

The state sent a letter to vaccine providers, which outlined the following guidelines:

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Many counties do not yet have full plans in place for vaccinating seniors. The state will be working with the vaccine providers to make sure the public can get a vaccine when it’s their turn, officials said.

Everyone ages 70 and older should be able to get their first vaccination dose by Feb. 28, state public health officials said.

The letter also included anticipated timing for each phase:

• The state anticipates finishing the majority of remaining phase 1A healthcare workers around Jan. 15
• The current supply of the Pfrizer and Moderna vaccine received by the state of Colorado from mid January to late February will be allocated to completing vaccinations for moderate risk healthcare workers, first responders and adults 70 and older
• Once providers finish vaccinating these groups, the state will be ready to vaccinate frontline essential workers, including teachers and childcare, likely beginning end of February

Providers should focus on vaccinating these critical populations while ensuring no dose goes to waste, the letter to providers read. If faced with a choice of wasting vaccine doses or vaccinating someone earlier, providers should choose to vaccinate someone earlier, officials said.

The timelines in individual counties may differ from the state's anticipated timeline, as the number of front-line health care workers in each county varies, state public health officials said.