All Coloradans 16+ Eligible For Vaccine Friday: What To Know

The long-awaited Phase 2 of Colorado's COVID-19 vaccination rollout has finally arrived — the general public in the state will become eligible to receive their vaccines Friday, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday.

All Coloradans over age 16 will be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and all Coloradans over the age of 18 will be eligible to receive the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Everyone who wants to be vaccinated should be able to receive their first appointment by the end of May, Polis said.

“Each vaccine is a step towards getting back to normal, Polis said in a statement released Monday. "Today is a monumental step forward in Colorado’s efforts to get vaccines to every person who wants one, and I want to thank our frontline heroes — both professional and volunteer — who have stepped up, racing to get shots into arms.

“This is one of the greatest feats in human history, and we couldn’t have gotten to where we are now without their tireless efforts. Soon everyone in our state will be able to get the protection they need, but it’s going to take some time. It could be next week, it could be in five weeks. So while availability opens to everyone this Friday, April 2nd, be patient and know that your time will come.”

How to sign up to receive your COVID-19 vaccine: CO Coronavirus Vaccine Hub: Where And How To Get Immunized

Mobile vaccination buses will also begin traveling around Colorado, the governor said. Their schedules have not yet been announced.

More than 1.5 million Coloradans have received at least their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to state data. More than 962,000 Coloradans are fully immunized.

Colorado opened its fifth community vaccination site Wednesday in Larimer County. The state has also launched community vaccination sites in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, and Grand Junction.

Around 88 percent of Coloradans are interested in getting vaccinated, according to a study released Friday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The survey highlights a significant shift — in September, only 66 percent of people in our state were interested in getting vaccinated, the agency said.

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The state's vaccination data dashboard shows which Colorado counties have the highest vaccination rates per 100,000 people:

Some counties have higher rates due to higher populations of people ages 60 and older, and front-line workers. And some eligible Coloradans are choosing to hold off on getting vaccinated.