Vaccine Eligibility Increases in Colorado

General public can now get vaccinated

**As of April 6, over 1 million Coloradoans are fully vaccinated.**
Illustration by April Kinney *• The Sentry*

As the COVID vaccine is being distributed across the country, more people in the higher risk groups are able to get their vaccines, and people in the lower risk group will soon get their first dose or their only dose.

As of mid-March, many clinics began vaccinating those in the phase called 1B.4. This meant people who are 50 years or older, higher education workers (both students and staff), food and restaurant services, manufacturing, US postal service, public health, human service workers, faith leaders, direct care providers, journalists, local government staff, and people aged 16-49 with one higher risk condition were eligible for their vaccination spots. However, as of early April, all Coloradans aged 16 and above are now eligible for their vaccinations.

For those who are in the previous groups and haven’t gotten their shots, clinics still allow for people to go in. As of now, phase 2 has been released much sooner than expected. In an Instagram post by Joe Biden, Colorado was expecting to open up to all adults by May 1. Colorado is about three weeks ahead of that initial goal.

The Health Center at Auraria operates a few one-day vaccine clinics at 5th Street Garage. They hope to have a steady amount of vaccine doses to operate at a steady rate.

In an email sent from CU Denver on March 18, the school encourages faculty and student staff members to get their doses. Staff includes “student employees, temporary employees, and on-campus contractors such as custodial, security, and Lynx Crossing food service.” The email also provides a link for students and staff for a faster scheduling process.

When people get their vaccine, it is important to listen or to read the instructions the clinics may provide. The FDA has put up fact sheets for the types of shots with safety protocols. For example, in rare cases people may go into anaphylactic shock after their dose similar to a bee sting and nut/shellfish allergies. Other times, some people may get severe reactions to the vaccine. The clinics watch over patients for fifteen minutes following the injection in case an emergency like this comes up. The clinic may also tell people what to do and what to avoid. Some medications like pain relievers may disrupt the vaccine, so it is important to know medications a person can take after their visit. Other instructions may include not getting another vaccine between the first and second doses or to stay very hydrated throughout the day.

One of the most crucial aspects of this vaccine is people can still catch and spread COVID, just at much lower rates. A simple way to think about this is like the flu; people get vaccinations, but an immunization does not give a person full, complete immunity to the disease. It simply helps their body fight it off. It is advised to still practice good hygiene and social distancing for the safety of oneself and others.

This is a selection from the April 7 issue. To view the full issue, visit: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/989376735/