COLORADO SPRINGS — Governor Jared Polis is urging Colorado hospitals to begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine within 72 hours of receiving shipments of it as the vaccine arrived in Colorado.
“Colorado is expecting to begin receiving initial, limited doses of COVID vaccine this week, and we need to be ready to hit the ground running," Polis wrote in a letter. "Our ability to quickly vaccinate prioritized populations and report those doses as administered to the Colorado Immunization Information System is paramount to Colorado’s ability to receive future allocations of COVID vaccine and end this public health crisis."
Polis, who was on hand to receive Colorado's first shipment of the vaccine at 8 a.m. Monday, asked hospital administrators to confirm to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) of their plans to start issuing the vaccine and request support from the CDPHE if they need it.
Polis and health officials were at a state health building in Denver on Monday as the first shipment of the vaccine arrived. Hearing a ring signaling the shipment's arrival, Polis raised a garage door and signed for the FedEx shipment of the vaccine.
"Show me where to sign," Polis told the FedEx delivery driver. "I've been waiting to do this signature for nine months.
Polis then walked with health officials as they escorted the shipment to the building's ultra-cold freezer, where the vaccine will have to be stored until administered.
Colorado is expecting the first shipment of 46,800 doses of Pfizer vaccines between Dec. 13-16. The state anticipates 95,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine the following week.
Allocations were based upon the population in each state and the quantity of ready-to-ship doses from the manufacturer. Colorado will receive 46,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and expects to receive 95,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Colorado's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan will be implemented in three phases, giving priority to the highest-risk healthcare workers and staff at long-term care facilities.
CDPHE identified locations across the state with ultra-low temperature freezers to receive the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine. These locations were chosen for their unique abilities to store, monitor, and handle vaccines in ultra-cold temperatures (-60°C to -80°C), as well as their willingness to redistribute COVID-19 vaccines to other providers in their regions.
The department purchased 10 ultra-cold storage units and has distributed 8 of them to facilities around the state. The remaining two will be distributed today.
Approximately 7,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are slated to be shipped to hospitals in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Canon City, and Lamar.
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