Colorado will open up eligibility to COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 16 and older who wants to be inoculated beginning at the end of this week, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday.
The state will move to Phase 2 — the final, “general public” stage — of its vaccination distribution plan on Friday, Polis said at a news conference.
“Every day we’re getting closer to ending the pandemic, but it’s not over yet,” Polis said, stressing that the virus is still widespread in Colorado and people should continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
The governor stressed there are still supply constraints, and people won’t all be able to get vaccinated immediately.
“We still anticipate by mid-to-late May, six to eight weeks from now, everybody who wants a vaccine will have had a vaccine,” Polis said.
Colorado moved to the current vaccination stage, Phase 1B.4, on March 19, expanding access to anyone 50 or older, and various types of essential workers, including restaurant employees, postal workers, faith leaders, manufacturing employees and frontline journalists.
Additionally, anyone with a single high-risk health condition — rather than the previously required two — currently is eligible.
Earlier this month, Polis promised that every adult in Colorado would become eligible by mid-April, and that every Coloradan 16 and older who wants to be inoculated will receive at least their first dose by the end of May.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
