Coloradans 70 And Older, Others Moved To Higher Vaccine Priority

Colorado's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan has changed, Gov. Jared Polis announced in a news conference Wednesday.

Colorado has shifted into Phase 1B of the plan, which will now include people age 70 and older, teachers and other front line workers.

The state is working with counties to implement a plan for vaccinating these groups of people, but as of Wednesday, no plan had been announced.

Most Colorado residents will get their vaccinations from one of 12 national pharmacy chains, public health officials said.

Here is the updated distribution plan:

Phase 1B now includes the following groups:

• Educators and daycare staff
• Food and agriculture workers
• Manufacturing
• U.S. Postal Service
• Public Transit and specialized transportation personnel
• Grocery workers
• Public Health workers
• Direct care providers for Coloradans experiencing homelessness
• Essential personnel for the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government
• Frontline journalists

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Phase 1B previously only included health care workers who don't have direct contact with COVID-19 patents, first responders, hospice and home health employees.

Some Colorado hospitals are still working to administer shots to front-line health care workers, Polis said.

Summit County has already begun to offer those ages 70 and older vaccinations through a sign-up program at some local pharmacies.

The first case of a coronavirus variant — one that was discovered in the United Kingdom — has been reported in Colorado. The discovery has been a factor in the state's decision to shift its vaccine distribution plan, Polis said. Scientists believe the new variant can spread more rapidly.

Public health officials said they believe the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will help inoculate people against the new variant.