September 2021 QUICK COVID RESOURCES COVID19.COLORADO.GOV COVID TESTING FIND A VACCINE PROVIDER CO EXPOSURE NOTIFICATIONS GOVERNOR POLIS PROVIDES UPDATE ON COVID-19, ANNOUNCES NEW PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER VACCINE PROGRAM & TESTING INCENTIVES FOR STUDENTS Today, Governor Polis was flanked by pediatricians at Partners in Health Family Medicine in Westminster as he provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and announced the state’s new COVID-19 Primary Care Providers Grant and School Testing Initiative programs to make it easier for more Coloradans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Polis was joined by Dr. Aaron Shupp, Family Medicine Specialist with Rocky Mountain Primary Care, and Dr. Marc Moss, Head of Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine-Anschutz. “Colorado has reached a milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by successfully vaccinating more than 75% of Coloradans with at least one dose and we have to remain vigilant against the virus. We know that the best way to reach the remaining 25% is through their family doctor, whom they trust to treat them for common health issues which is why we are empowering our local doctors across Colorado to order and administer the COVID vaccine right then and there,” said Governor Polis. “These new initiatives - testing incentives for students and grants for primary care providers - will protect the public good and in person learning while providing more motivation to get more Coloradans to get the safe and effective vaccine.” Starting today, primary care providers (PCP) can receive grant funding ranging from up to $60,000 to up to $120,000 depending on practice size for supporting COVID vaccination and discussing the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccine between doctor and patient. Applications are open September 2, 2021 through December 1, 2021, and the state will review them on a rolling basis until all funding is distributed. To apply for the Primary Care Vaccination Program, visit COPCPVAX.COM Dr. Aaron Shupp, Family Medicine Specialist with Rocky Mountain Primary Care provided an overview on how primary care providers will benefit from the new Primary Care Providers Grant program and shared a story about how a patient came to receive the life saving vaccine after losing a family member to the deadly virus. “Family practices like mine offer vaccines for many other preventable diseases, which makes us a natural place for patients to come to get their COVID-19 vaccines. This new grant program for primary care practices to give the vaccine is exciting for its potential to provide additional access points for our patients who want to get vaccinated,” Dr. Aaron Shupp said. Governor Polis also announced incentives for students to get tested via the state’s free, voluntary statewide COVID-19 testing program in schools through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. All students in participating schools whose parents have opted into COVID testing are eligible to receive gift cards of $25 for the first test and $10 for each subsequent test. Additionally, any school that participates in the program will receive $2.50 per test administered and reported to CDPHE as a reimbursement for the testing administrative costs. The program is available to all Colorado K-12 schools, and all students and staff can participate regardless of vaccination status or presence of symptoms. Dr. Marc Moss, Head of Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine-Anschutz, joined Governor Polis where he shared his experiences working on the frontlines of the pandemic. “This pandemic has caused enough economic loss, sadness, tragedy, and far too many deaths. On behalf of the tens of thousands of healthcare professionals in the great state of Colorado and the other front-line workers who have worked on your behalf, we urge you to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Moss. For more information on where to get the vaccine, please visit covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine. VIEW TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE LABOR DAY WEEKEND SAFETY TIPS Because so many Coloradans have received their first dose or are fully vaccinated, this Labor Day, we are in a better place than last year. But we can’t deny the rise of the Delta variant and the need to protect those who are unvaccinated including children under 12 and our essential workers who have gone above and beyond during this pandemic and every day -- we’re proud to celebrate them. So before sending invites and firing up the grill, make safety your first priority to prevent needless spread of disease. Here’s some tips for enjoying a safe Labor Day weekend: Wear a mask when around others. Limit the number of invites to 10 people or fewer, and host your gathering in the great outdoors where it’s safer Maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet Avoid risky activities that could lead to COVID exposures or physical injury. Follow all local COVID guidelines and fire restrictions. MOBILE VACCINATION CLINIC AT COLORADO STATE FAIR One of Colorado’s nine mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be administering shots at the State Fair on September 3rd-6th. The mobile clinic can be accessed at Gate 5 of the fairgrounds, and you can go anytime between 9:30 am - 6:30 pm. Coloradans getting vaccinated will be offered various gift cards and incentives. More information on those incentives will be announced in the coming days. Anyone 12 and up is eligible for vaccination at the mobile clinics and both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available. Click the button below for the full list of mobile vaccination site stops. VIEW MOBILE VACCINATION SITE STOPS LEARN ABOUT VACCINE INCENTIVES 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. "POWER THE COMEBACK" BUSINESS PLEDGE From the beginning of this pandemic, we’ve been making decisions based on saving lives and livelihoods. And we know that the good times come back when we all do our part to power the Colorado Comeback for ourselves, our families, businesses, and students by supporting the decision to get vaccinated. Business owners and employees have been innovative and nimble in the face of this crisis. There are incredible stories of resilience, and that is in no small part due to so many Coloradans getting the vaccine, who can now do the things they love and give our economy a much-needed boost in the process.  That’s why the State is launching a new business tool as part of our "Power the Comeback" campaign, which will encourage businesses to do their part by encouraging employees to get vaccinated and by promoting policies that create COVID-safe workplaces. Through this "Power the Comeback" campaign, businesses can take the Power the Comeback business pledge. Here are some of the ways we are asking Colorado businesses to help public-facing workers understand the benefits of getting vaccinated and understand the support their employers can provide: Host a vaccine clinic for employees. Promote information about the Colorado law that mandates paid time off to get the vaccine and recover from vaccine side effects. Provide incentives for employees to get vaccinated (e.g., cash bonuses, additional paid time off, etc.). Share information about nearby vaccination clinics with employees and customers. Commit to posting ample signage about safe COVID-19 behaviors, mask rules for those who are unvaccinated, employee rights, and quarantining rules if exposed to COVID-19. Have a policy in place that encourages any individual aged 12 and older, who is not fully vaccinated, to continue wearing a mask inside your workplace. A toolkit that includes posters, graphics and other materials for use will be available once your pledge is received. TAKE THE PLEDGE! WORKPLACE VACCINATION PROGRAM Getting the vaccine should be as easy as showing up for work. The Governor is proud to announce that Colorado is offering a new workplace vaccination program, which will allow employers, unions, and trade associations of any size to provide their workers with more opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a familiar and convenient location. Employers can enroll and request a free, on-site vaccination event by filling out a Google form - there is no workplace too small to get vaccinated! REQUEST A WORKPLACE VACCINATION CLINIC All staffing, logistics, and vaccine supplies will be coordinated and provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The State of Colorado has been ahead of the curve in getting our workforce protected against this virus. All regular employees in Colorado receive four hours of paid time off (PTO) to use for vaccine appointments and to recover from vaccine side effects. If you’re a regular employee and find this is not the case in your workplace, call the Department of Labor and Employment’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 | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]