DENVER – Gov. Jared Polis said Friday that Colorado will move into its next phase of coronavirus vaccine distribution on March 19 – two days ahead of schedule – and that he expects the general public will have access to inoculations by mid-April.
More than 1 million people in Colorado have already received at least a first dose of coronavirus vaccine. The state is currently focusing on vaccinating people age 60 and older, those with two or more high-risk conditions, and agricultural and grocery store workers.“We are really making great progress,” said Scott Bookman, the state’s incident commander.
Bookman said vaccine providers will have discretion to prioritize more vulnerable people to get inoculated once distribution is opened up to the general public.
Colorado will not have finished vaccinating people in Phase 1b.4 before it starts inoculating members of the general public. People in the phase, however, will be prioritized ahead of others.
The governor said by having phases overlap the state can ensure there is enough demand for the supply.
The state is opening mass-vaccination sites across the state to handle the surge in inoculations that is expected in the coming weeks.“We expect that Coloradans who want it will be able to get it by the end of May,” he said of first doses of coronavirus vaccine.
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