Public Health Update: January 6, 2021

SAN LUIS VALLEY - More than 1,100 San Luis Valley residents have received the first of two doses of vaccine to fight COVID-19. That number is expected to grow substantially during the coming two weeks. Many San Luis Valley residents in the early sections of Phase 1B have already reached out to public health agencies and other COVID-19 vaccine providers. If you have been given an appointment, it is important that you keep it. Bring proof of your age if you are age 70 or older. Bring proof of employment if you are a healthcare provider or a first responder. Make sure that you return to receive your second dose from the same provider who gave your first dose. Remember, maximum immunity does not take effect until 1-2 weeks after the second dose. 

 

Colorado’s goal is to complete vaccinations for highest risk and moderate risk healthcare workers, first responders, and least 70% of those age 70 and older, by the end of February. This would bring us “to the dotted line” in Phase 1B. The goal was shared in a letter sent to vaccine providers on Tuesday from Scott Bookman, Director of Colorado’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response. 

 

Once that goal is met and we receive authorization, we will be able to provide vaccinations to those remaining in Phase B, such as essential workers in education, food and agriculture, and others in this phase. It is possible that we will reach this point earlier than the end of February, depending on vaccine availability. 

 

As we have noted in earlier updates, this may not look exactly the same in each county. We must balance these defined priorities with the mandate to not let any vaccine go to waste. Once thawed, the vaccine must find its way into someone’s arm within a very short time. “We need everyone to focus on vaccinating these critical populations while ensuring no dose goes to waste. If faced with a choice of wasting vaccine doses or vaccinating someone earlier, providers should choose to vaccinate someone earlier,” said Bookman in Tuesday’s letter. 

 

These are the providers in the San Luis Valley currently enrolled to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, and where you can find current vaccination information: 

Rio Grande Hospital - (719) 657-2418

SLV Health - (719) 587-1355 and sanluisvalleyhealth.org 

Valley Wide Health Systems - https://vwhs.org/for-patients/coronavirus-updates/ or Facebook 

Alamosa County Public Health - (719) 589-6639 and  alamosacounty.org

Conejos County Public Health - 719-274-4307 and Facebook

Costilla County Public Health - (719) 672-3332 and Facebook

Silver Thread Public Health - (719) 658-2416 and Facebook

Rio Grande County Public Health - (719) 657-3352

Saguache County Public Health - 719-655-2533 and Facebook