If you are 70 or older, finding a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may feel like climbing Engineer Mountain without a good walking stick or a water bottle. It’s easy to understand. Right now, more than 1.2 million Coloradans are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This number jumped by 400,000 this week when Colorado moved to what is known as Phase 1B.2, which opens up the vaccine to people ages 65-69, K-12 education and child care workers and a small number of government officials.
Despite the headlines that say supplies are ramping up nationwide, the vaccine supplies arriving in Colorado and Durango are still limited. This week, the state anticipates receiving 90,000 doses.
If you are 70 and older, you may be wondering if you will ever get your dose. The good news is people 70 and older are still the priority. This community makes up 78% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths and vaccinating this vulnerable population remains a priority for everyone at Mercy Regional Medical Center. Our team of caregivers will continue to follow the state’s phasing priorities, which means our health care workers and those 70 and up will come first.
“The 70+ are the most vulnerable when it comes to COVID-19 and we must vaccinate these friends and neighbors to ensure we decrease the number of deaths and hospitalizations,” said Stephanie Clements, Chief Nursing Officer for Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Mercy has vaccinated more than 3,681 people to date and will continue to use every dose every week. No dose goes unused. If you have not signed up to receive the vaccine, there is still time. Anyone, regardless of age, can sign up here.
The State estimates it will take another 30 days to finish providing first doses to those 70 and older and to work through most of Phase 1B.2. The next Phase, called 1B.3, will include frontline essential worker and people with multiple co-morbidities. It is scheduled to start in early March. Governor Polis has warned this timing could change with vaccine availability.
The best rule of thumb, sign up for a vaccine, be patient, continue wearing your mask and maintain your social distancing.
