COVID-19 vaccine is currently being administered at local hospitals, long-term care facilities, and at Mesa County Public Health (MCPH). To-date, 4,489 doses have been administered, including second doses for some of the highest risk health care workers.
Vaccination for Phase 1A is underway, which includes approximately 7,000 individuals who are front-line health care workers and high-risk individuals. Local hospitals and Mesa County Public Health are the designated providers for vaccine administration to individuals in Phase 1A. Vaccination has also begun for staff and residents of Long-Term Care facilities. These are occurring through a Federal contract between the CDC, Walgreens, and CVS. This effort is known as the Pharmacy Partnership Program. Our community goal is to have the majority of health care workers in Phase 1A receive their first dose by the end of January.
Limited vaccination for Phase 1B is underway with expansion plans as more vaccine is received. Phase 1B, which was expanded in the State of Colorado on December 30, includes moderate-risk health care workers, individuals 70 years and older, first responders, and essential workers. Mesa County Public Health is operating a vaccination clinic with the capacity to serve 2,000 people per week.
A vaccine interest form on our website can be filled out by individuals who are 70 years and older or essential workers eligible in Phase 1B. MCPH will notify those individuals via email or telephone to set-up an appointment as vaccine becomes available. Because of limited supply:
- Registration is required through an online portal exclusively for organizations in Phase 1A and 1B.
- Access to registration is verified through a unique registration token, or key, given to organizations and individuals.
- Token information is sent in an email or provided by MCPH to ensure only the appropriate number of appointments, based on available doses of vaccine, are scheduled.
Mesa County will move to additional categories under Phase 1B once we receive more vaccine doses. Local hospitals will continue to assist in local efforts to vaccinate groups 1A and 1B. Our community goal is to have the majority of first responders and individuals 70 years and older vaccinated by the end of February.
As supply increases, MCPH will expand its ability to administer vaccine by opening a mass vaccination Point of Dispensing (POD) location at the Grand Junction Convention Center. This location will allow an average of 1,600 doses per day to be administered and could be expanded further if needed.
By March, MCPH hopes to begin vaccinating frontline essential workers in education, manufacturing, postal services, and transportation, among others. This timeline is dependent on receiving a steady supply of doses, which at this time remains limited. The state of Colorado as a whole received 46,000 doses last week. MCPH is prepared to quickly administer the vaccine as we receive it, regardless of allocation size.
As we move into Phase 2 later this spring, 35 independent practices have registered to be vaccine providers. Once this phase opens, those providers can order vaccine from the State and administer vaccines to Mesa County residents.
As you prepare for your turn to be vaccinated, please continue to wear a mask over your nose and mouth, stay 6 feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands.
To see a summary of Mesa County’s vaccination plan, learn what phase you fall into, or to track our progress, visit the COVID-19 vaccine page.