Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and leaders with the state’s public health department on Wednesday unveiled a reworked plan to prioritize the distribution of the coming COVID-19 vaccines, breaking it down into three phases spread over winter, spring and summer.
The first coronavirus vaccine, by Pfizer Inc., could get federal approval this week, with doses expected to arrive in Colorado shortly thereafter.
Those at highest risk — health care workers who are in contact with infected patients, those who live and work in nursing homes — will get the first vaccines. More at-risk groups will follow through winter and spring, with the rest of the public expected to be vaccinated in the summer.
Here’s exactly how Colorado is planning to prioritize the population:
PHASE 1: Winter
1A: Highest-risk health care workers and individuals
- People who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
- Long-term care facility staff and residents
1B: Moderate-risk health care workers and responders:
- Health care workers with less direct contact with COVID-19 patients
- Workers in home health/hospice and dental settings
- EMS, firefighters, police, correctional workers, dispatchers, funeral services, other first responders and COVID-19 response personnel
PHASE 2: Spring
Higher-risk individuals and essential workers
- People 65 or older
- People of any age with obesity, diabetes, chronic lung disease, significant heart disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer or are immunocompromised
- People who interact directly with the public at work, such as grocery store workers and school staff
- People who work in high-density settings like farms and meatpacking plants
- Workers serving people who live in high-density settings
- Other health care workers not covered in Phase 1
- Adults who received a placebo during a COVID-19 vaccine trial
PHASE 3: Summer
The general public
- Anyone ages 18 to 64 without high-risk conditions
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
