April 2021 QUICK COVID RESOURCES COVID19.Colorado.gov COVID Testing Find a Vaccine Provider Colorado Exposure Notifications COLORADO ADDS 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NASA AWARDS GRANT TO THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS IN PUEBLO NASA has awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County a $175,000 grant. The money will allow up to 150 middle and high school-aged youth across Southern Colorado to enable them to grow edible plants, conduct research, and experiments on seed varieties, and learn the finer points of data collection. Packing the first Indoor Farming Innovation Zone (IFIZ) aquaponic kits for the NASA grant. Read More RESUMING THE USE OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE Following the two-week pause recommended by the FDA and CDC. Last Friday, CDPHE and the Colorado Joint Vaccine Task Force gave the green light to providers to proceed with using the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine immediately, and Coloradans already received it over this past weekend and are getting it every day. CDPHE has also sent information to health care providers to instruct them regarding how to identify and treat TTS (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) in the very rare case where it were to occur, 15 cases in 1 million for women ages 18-49. There are no statistically significant issues with men or with older women. That means this one-dose option is available again to every Coloradan over the age of 18 who wants one. A single shot also advances our efforts to get shots into the arms of people who have to travel frequently for work and provides efficient protection against this virus to Coloradans in medically-underserved communities. The decision to temporarily pause Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration was made out of an abundance of caution, and we appreciate the FDA and CDC taking the time needed to evaluate the risks and increase confidence in the J&J vaccine by ensuring that consumers know that all reported issues were thoroughly investigated. We are also reviewing the latest guidance from the CDC on mask use for fully vaccinated people. The statewide mask order does not require masks outside, but local communities may have additional mask restrictions. We should all continue taking personal responsibility to prevent further spread of this disease - especially if you are unvaccinated. Common sense says to wear your mask around others with an unknown vaccine status. HIGHER VACCINATION RATES, LOWER COVID CASE RATES In our communities with higher vaccination rates, the number of COVID cases are beginning to drop. Now we’re seeing a tangible, significant impact in the data reported by the top ten largest Colorado counties -- where stopping the spread of this virus among the majority of our population is crucial to rebuilding the links that connect all of our communities. VACCINE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL With an uptick in cases among our unvaccinated youngest Coloradans, and rates decreasing in vaccinated populations older than 50, getting vaccines to people as soon as they’re of eligible age will be critical to mitigating the impacts of this fourth wave. Children's Hospital Colorado has been a nimble partner in our vaccine campaign. Since the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in patients ages 16 and older and is on its way to being approved for use in patients 12 to 15 years old, Children’s Colorado has made appointments available to everyone eligible to receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine at their Aurora and Colorado Springs facilities. Children’s Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus 13123 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045 Call: 720-777-8889 Vaccine type: Pfizer Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs 4090 Briargate Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920 Call: 720-777-8889 Vaccine type: Pfizer Register for Children's Hospital Vaccination Everyone 16 and older is currently eligible to sign up, and minors must come with exactly one parent or legal guardian. Once you are registered, Children’s will send an email with time slots when an appointment becomes available. Appointments are generally available from Monday through Friday and you’ll be in and out in approximately 30 minutes. We’re hopeful that adding Children’s Colorado to the rapidly-expanding list of providers in our state will provide some reassurance to parents who would feel more comfortable having their 16 and 17-year-old get vaccinated by medical professionals with experience treating younger patients. WALK-UP VACCINATION SITES All of our “Vaccines for All” Community Vaccination Sites offer same-day, walk-in vaccination appointments when there are available appointments with no advance registration required. Adams County - Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Sunday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Appointments have been filled for this week Call: (720) 263-5737 Register for Dick's Sporting Goods Park Denver County - Ball Arena Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4,000 appointments available April 27 and April 28 Register for Ball Arena El Paso County - Broadmoor World Arena Friday – Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Broadmoor World Arena will be taking walk-ups on the weekends. Call: 720-263-5737 Register for Broadmoor World Arena Larimer County - The Ranch Events Complex Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A few hundred open appointments Register for The Ranch Event Complex Mesa County - Grand Junction Convention Center Wednesday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m Appointments have been filled for this week. Call: (970) 248-6900 Register for Grand Junction Convention Center Pueblo County - Colorado State Fairgrounds Friday – Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call: 720-263-5737 Register for Colorado State Fairgrounds VACCINATION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS Rising cases among our unvaccinated population are a reminder that this virus waits for no one. Some colleges are requiring that students get vaccinated before returning to school -- and we expect that most will make vaccines a requirement for next fall, but every student should want to get vaccinated to enjoy the full college experience regardless. If you’ve been putting off getting the vaccine until there is more availability -- especially if you’re looking to return to campus this fall, now is your chance to step right up and take your shot at a Community Vaccination Site near you. Now, getting to your appointment or a walk-in site is easier than ever. Click below, call 211, or text your zip code to 898-211 for access to free rides (up to 25 miles each way) to vaccination sites across Colorado through Mile High United Way’s “Ride United” program. PAID TIME OFF FOR WORKERS GETTING VACCINATED Many Coloradans have expressed that they’re afraid to get their first and/or second dose due to the possibility of missing work to recover from vaccine side effects. When Governor Polis signed the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act last year, all regular employees working full-time or part-time in the state became eligible to receive paid time off by January 1st of this year for health and safety-related needs. That means the vast majority of workers have the right to take four hours of paid time off or sick leave for a vaccine appointment -- even when scheduled during work hours, and use PTO while recovering from COVID-19 vaccine side effects. And employers are required to honor that right. We want everyone to be able to get the vaccine as soon as they can, and keep the vaccine free for all by breaking down barriers like the cost of taking time off from work. Many of us need the vaccine to stay safer at work and in Colorado, we’re including COVID-19 vaccination in the list of preventive medical care for which people can use PTO to cover any other mental health condition, physical illness, injury, or other health conditions. If your employer’s answer to “Can I take time off?” is “No,” meaning they have not allowed you to use accumulated hours of leave time to receive the vaccine or recover from vaccine side effects -- or the pay rate does not match the hourly rate you would normally receive plus the same benefits, please call CDLE’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics at (303) 318-8441 to ask questions or voice a complaint. ‌ ‌ ‌ Visit Website Office of Governor Jared Polis | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Customer Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]