COVID-19 Vaccine
We are excited to get our community vaccinated! Colorado is currently in Phase 1a and beginning the first tier of Phase 1b. Our department works with healthcare providers and hospitals to help coordinate vaccine distribution. It is likely that individuals will hear from their healthcare provider about when the vaccine is available for them. If you would like to receive an email when we have more information about when and how you may be able to get the vaccine, please complete this form.
See below for locations in Larimer County currently beginning to vaccinate those who are 70 years old and up.
Healthcare providers and first responder agencies included in Phase 1B located in Weld or Larimer County should complete our COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Survey. Completing this survey does not mean that you will be vaccinated right away, but will ensure that we have information about your business, facility, agency, or clinic that we and our partners can use to coordinate the distribution of vaccine doses as they become available.
Vaccines can save lives, but so can you.
Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available to us. To slow the spread of disease, Coloradans should continue to use basic public health guidance, like physical distancing and mask-wearing, until a vaccine is widely available and used by Coloradans. Learn the most effective ways to prevent COVID-19 and stay healthy here.
Vaccine Distribution
To be as fair and efficient with distribution as possible, the state has developed a phased approach to vaccine distribution to save lives and end the crisis that has been brought on by the pandemic as quickly as possible. By vaccinating people who are most likely to get COVID-19 first, we can keep more Coloradans safe. More information about the state's vaccine distribution plan can be found on their website.
The vaccine will not be available immediately for everyone who wants one. Each distribution phase is expected to take several months, and not everyone can be first. View Colorado's Vaccine Distribution Phases
Larimer County Distribution Locations
UCHealth: Information about UCHealth’s vaccine distribution plan is available on its website at uchealth.org/covidvaccine. This site includes information to help people sign up and be included in the vaccine distribution, even if they are not current UCHealth patients. Anyone 70 and older, including those who are not current patients, will be entered into the random selection process to receive invitations to schedule a vaccine appointment. If you or a loved one does not have access or skill with using the online portal, please call UCHealth at 720-462-2255 to be added to their notification list. Anyone less than 70 will be notified when vaccinations are available for their respective phase, as directed by CDPHE.
Centura Health: If you are a Centura Health patient, you will receive an invitation when it is your time to receive the vaccine through MyCenturaHealth, their patient portal. -hen Centura is able to vaccinate members of the community, details will be posted here once available.
Banner Health: Please take the survey to determine if you are eligible to receive the vaccine. Appointments will need to be scheduled online.
Kaiser Permanente members can visit Kaiser Permanente’s vaccine webpage to complete the “COVID-19 vaccine sign up.” Upon providing your information to them, you will be placed on a first-come, first-served waitlist for the vaccine based on your eligibility.
Salud Family Health is beginning to schedule appointments for those 70+. Please check Salud's website for updates.
Things to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccines are going to hospital healthcare personnel and residents and staff in long-term care facilities first.
- Healthcare workers, first responders, and long-term care employees, and residents are first to be vaccinated. Individuals 70+ are expected to be next in the phases to be vaccinated.
- We expect that the general public will be able to get the vaccine in the summer of 2021.
- The supply of COVID-19 vaccines will increase in the coming weeks and months. The currently limited vaccine supply will go to priority groups first and the general public can be vaccinated once the vaccine supply increases.
- Until then, we need everyone to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask, avoid others you don't live with, wash your hands frequently, etc.
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
- Vaccines are rigorously studied to ensure that all vaccines are as safe as possible before being approved and are continuously studied afterward.
- Once someone is fully vaccinated, COVID-19 vaccines are 95% effective in preventing infection with the virus.
- For full protection, two doses are needed.
- At this time, someone will need to get 2 doses spaced about a month apart to get full protection. It takes about 1-2 weeks for the vaccine to create immunity in the body once someone gets the last dose of the vaccine.
- COVID vaccines are free.
- The cost to you for the vaccine is free. Providers will likely be charging for the administration of the vaccine. Agencies may charge insurance for a set priced administration fee of approximately $23, and agencies providing the vaccine to those who do not have health insurance will be compensated by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Larimer County coordinates with local organizations to ensure resources are available to assist with public health volunteer needs. You can also register as a volunteer with these Colorado organizations.
Medical and health professions: The Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer is currently working to recruit and train individuals from the following areas: Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Respiratory Therapists, EMT/Paramedics, Behavioral/Mental Health and Veterinary/animal response to name a few, to respond to "all-hazards" incidents.
Non-medical/health volunteers: sign up here to be contacted as volunteers are needed in Larimer County.
Register to volunteer to help in Colorado through the Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety.
- We expect that the initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine(s) will be very limited for several months. This means that a vaccine will not be immediately available to everyone who wants one.
- To be as fair and efficient with distribution as possible, the state has developed a phased approach to vaccine distribution to save lives and end the crisis that has been brought on by the pandemic as quickly as possible. The phased allocation plan will prioritize people at high risk of getting exposed to COVID-19, people who work in essential or critical jobs, and people who are at high risk for getting very sick or dying of COVID-19.
- Prioritization is subject to change based on data, science, and availability.
- The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recognizes the Tribal sovereignty of the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes, and that the Tribes have the authority to determine how vaccine supply will be prioritized for their populations, even if their prioritization scheme is different than what the department recommends.
In the early stages of vaccine distribution, healthcare providers will provide information to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on how much vaccine they need and how many people are getting vaccinated. Once we believe we have distributed enough vaccine to those who want a vaccine in the first phase, we will move to the next phase. The speed at which we are able to move through the phases will largely depend on the supply of vaccine.
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The FDA requires that vaccines undergo a rigorous scientific process, including three phases of clinical trials, before they authorize or approve a vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccines are subject to the same safety standards as other vaccine trials.
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To date, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board overseeing Phase 3 trials of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has not identified or reported any serious safety concerns. All phase 3 studies have Data Safety and Monitoring Boards. The boards are made up of independent scientists hired by the company to look at the safety data and check at regular intervals whether the company should cancel or continue with the study.
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Additionally, two independent advisory committees will review a vaccine’s safety data before it is made available to the public. These committees are the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which advises the FDA, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the CDC.
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Learn more about the Vaccine safety and development process.
You will not be immediately protected from COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine. Studies show that it takes about one to two weeks after your last dose for your body to be able to protect itself against illness.
Current information suggests it is possible that someone who has been vaccinated against COVID-19 may still have a mild or asymptomatic infection or spread the virus to others. So it is important to continue taking precautions. Continue wearing masks and practicing physical distancing until it is clear that it is safe to stop.
While no vaccine is 100% effective, Pfizer and Moderna have reported that their vaccines are about 95% effective.
Employers may be able to require COVID-19 vaccination for in-person work for their employees, but an employee may be entitled to an exemption through the ADA and Civil Rights Act of 1964. The state of Colorado is not currently pursuing any mandates. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission has more information on this on their website: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/pandemic-preparedness-workplace-and-americans-disabilities-act
For additional FAQs, please visit the state health department website.
