DENVER – Colorado will expand access to the vaccine for people between the ages of 60 and 64 starting March 5, Gov. Jared Polis announced at a news conference Friday.
Also included in the extended access – known as phase 1B.3 – workers in agricultural processing plants, food workers and coloradans aged between 16 and 59 with two or more comorbidities.
Comorbidities include cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Scott Bookman, commander of the COVID-19 incident for the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, estimated that 958,000 people will be in Phase 1B.3, including 200,000 grocery workers and 400,000 people between the ages of 16 and 59 years with comorbidities.
The state also hopes to make the vaccine available to those over 50 by the end of March, a phase known as 1B.4. Key workers such as postal workers, higher education, religious leaders and direct care providers for the homeless will be among those eligible in phase 1B.4.
Polis announced on Friday a target date for March 21 for access to the vaccine for more than 50 years, although this could change depending on the supply.
Polis also reiterated: All Coloradans 65 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine now and can make an appointment to receive a dose.
Polis said about 67% of Coloradans aged 70 and over received a dose of vaccine; Colorado’s goal was to vaccinate 70 percent of Colorado residents aged 70 and over by the end of February. Vaccination events take place over the weekend, including one in Thornton, which still had 1,700 seats available as of Friday afternoon.
Polis strongly encouraged all eligible dyes to register for the vaccine. Coloradans can visit cocovidvaccine.org for information on how to sign up for the vaccine.
With access to the job-specific vaccine by the end of March, Polis estimated that access to the vaccine for the general public could take place from the end of April or the beginning of May, depending on supply.
Colorado Brigadier General Scott Sherman, who coordinates the distribution of vaccines in the state, said Colorado’s supply should receive a major boost once the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine is approved for use. Colorado should receive about 400,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the end of March, Sherman said, if 20 million doses are available nationwide.
Sherman said the state is waiting for an announcement from the White House next week about the expected increase in vaccine supply.
Polis warned coloradans to stay safe, despite increased vaccine distribution. The governor did not say whether he would extend his latest statewide mask term at the end of next week, but urged Coloradans to wear a mask anyway.
“The journey is not over, the race is not over yet,” Polis said. “We must continue to be patient.”