In response to Governor Polis’ announcement on the changes to the Phase 1 of distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, Chaffee County Public Health has worked over the last week to strategically rethink its protocols and processes. Polis’ changes include adding the 70 plus age group, frontline essential workers, state government and frontline journalists.
This was not disclosed to CCPH until right before the announcement, therefore CCPH intends on adding a second day to its vaccination schedule. They plan to offer an online scheduling option for those who are truly part of the first phase and are pushing out information through multiple channels when it is ready for specific groups.
Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom explained “I know many of you are getting or have questions, and over the past week, my team and I have been exploring options on how to efficiently and equitably rollout a comprehensive vaccination program with very little state support and guidance, especially in light of the Governor’s announcement last week on the revision of phases. While we were hearing about this at the same time as the public, we are adapting our plans accordingly to meet the new expectations. I can’t thank you enough for your patience, understanding, and support.”
Carlstrom continued, “we will not be keeping lists for those in Phase 1 (although, there might be times when there are clinic lulls or doses needed to be distributed before they expire and thus a need to call in to those close by to us), we will be launching an online scheduling system to get people in Phase 1 vaccinated. Please do not call your medical provider, the hospital, or public health regarding vaccines at this time. We will be taking this week to thoughtfully and strategically plan for those who fall within Phase 1. We all need our phone lines and e-mail open for urgent and emergent matters. Rest assured, we will get to vaccinating those that fall within Phase 1 in the weeks to come.”
Once the scheduler is launched, CCPH hopes that healthcare workers and responders who have not gotten vaccinated will be the first in line. Following them, CCPH welcomes the 70 plus age group with critical and essential workers following within a few weeks. A detailed description of those professions are still forthcoming from the state but until then, all businesses and employers that are currently operating in Chaffee County are included in this phase. Capacity will be limited and CCPH hopes that those who feel lower risk will wait until the county’s most public facing businesses take their turn. CCPH will have to turn people away if the volume is too great.
CCPH will be launching an electronic scheduler in the following days and will provide information on how to access it. CCPH will be available for community members who have a hard time accessing it. They will be working on the process for administering second doses.
Vaccines distributed by CCPH are for Chaffee County residents only. Primary residents should be in Chaffee County, the exception being those who work in the county and can’t get vaccinated in their residential county. For those who spend time in the area, it is important to commit to two doses in the span of 28 days. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is working with other interested healthcare providers and pharmacies so that they become distribution sites in future phases. Chaffee County has several for Phase 2 at this time.
CCPH does not need any more volunteers for its vaccination efforts. The vaccine demographic update site is expected in the near future and CCPH is awaiting information before they create their own version.
Click here for further details about the COVID-19 vaccine. For frequently asked questions about the vaccine, click here.
Recent Comments