COVID-19 Vaccines

Vaccines are now available to the general public

Anyone over 16 is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. For information on vaccine sites including free rides to sites, please visit the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment's page by clicking here.

Colorado's Vaccine Distribution Plan

Governor Polis announced that starting December 30, people 70 years old and older are currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor also stated that "Any Coloradan 70 and up can now legally receive the vaccine...This will take about 4-5 weeks."

While this news is very exciting, vaccinations are very dependent on vaccine availability. Some hospitals and other providers in the Tri-County Jurisdiction have begun phase 1B vaccinations, but not every provider has moved into phase 1B. Since limited amounts of the vaccine come in weekly, and even smaller amounts are distributed throughout the state, not every provider has all the vaccine needed to vaccinate everyone 70 and older.

Where can individuals 70 and older get a vaccine?

Find where to get a vaccine on the state's vaccine page.

Our clinics are unable to provide vaccines to community members who are 70 or older right now. Keep checking this website frequently for more information on where and when you can get vaccinated.

Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Protection from COVID-19 is critically important because for some people, the COVID-19 virus can cause severe illness or death.

Who can get a COVID-19 Vaccine and When?

Colorado is implementing a phased approach to distribute an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine. Because the initial supply of vaccine is limited, it is being given first to people most at risk for COVID-19, such as health care workers, and staff/residents of long-term care facilities and first responders. These are members of phase 1A.

Phase 1B

The state is rapidly moving into Phase 1B of the vaccination plan.

If you are 70 or older, you may be contacted by your healthcare provider to schedule a time to get a vaccine. Additionally, pharmacy vaccinators at some grocery stores may reach out to you to schedule a time to get your vaccine. Unfortunately, we aren't able to vaccinate community members who are 70 or older right now.

TCHD will begin providing vaccines to phase 1B pre-approved healthcare workers the week of January 4, 2021 through a closed scheduling system where TCHD reaches out to them to sign up. At this time, TCHD does not have enough vaccine to reach out to those who have not yet been pre-approved. If you are a healthcare provider interested in becoming pre-approved, please email callcenter@tchd.org.

If you fall below the dotted line of phase 1B, you will be vaccinated after the people in phase 1B above the dotted line. For more information on when you can get vaccinated, check back frequently.

Learn more about the current vaccine phases on our Frequently Asked Questions.

It will take time for a vaccine to be administered throughout the population and slow the spread of COVID-19. We must continue to practice safe six, including wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding gatherings other than with household members, washing our hands frequently, and staying home when sick.

COVID-19 vaccination offers protection from getting COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines are carefully evaluated in clinical studies and are approved only if the vaccine is safe and makes it substantially less likely you'll get COVID-19.
Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may protect you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19
Experts continue to conduct more studies about the effect of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing severe illness from COVID-19, as well as the vaccine's impact on keeping people from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination is the safest way to help build personal and community protection

COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you.
Clinical studies of COVID-19 vaccines must show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be approved for use. The benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the risks of the vaccine for use under what is known as an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
- Learn more about Emergency Use Authorization by watching the FDA video: What is an EUA?
Getting infected with COVID-19 may offer some protection, referred to as your body's natural immunity. Experts don't know how long this type of protection lasts, and there is risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from natural COVID-19 infection; you cannot predict how bad your COVID-19 illness could be. COVID-19 vaccination protects you by creating a strong protective immune response without having to experience sickness from the disease.
Both natural immunity and immunity produced by a vaccine are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic

Wearing masks and social distancing are very helpful to reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures alone are not enough to end the pandemic. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC's recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available. Consistently following public health recommendations is the way we can eventually get back to our regular daily routine. CDC will use the latest science to learn more about how COVID-19 vaccination can help reduce spread of the disease in communities and to keep us updated.

CDC Resources for individuals and families

CDC Resources for professionals and partners

Conversations with patients
- Preparing to provide COVID-19 Vaccines to your patients
- Talking to patients about COVID-19 Vaccines
Understanding the pharmacy partnership for Long-Term Care Program
- Frequently Asked Questions

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) COVID-19 Vaccine Planning and Development

FAQs