DENVER (AP) _ Colorado has reported its first two cases of a coronavirus variant first found in Brazil that has proven adept at infecting people who previously contracted the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the state health department that two Boulder County residents tested positive for the variant, The Denver Post reported  Tuesday.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said it is investigating whether they traveled to other countries or states where the variant is spreading and is also attempting to find other people who were potentially exposed.

Officials did not identify the two people or say whether they lived in the same household. It was not immediately known if they had symptoms.

The CDC has reported 289 cases of the same variant in 25 states across the U.S.

Health officials in Colorado have collected a sample of all positive COVID-19 cases for genetic sequencing tests to determine which variants are spreading and where.

Officials have found 1,268 cases linked to “variants of concern,” or versions of the virus believed to be more contagious, more severe and more difficult for immune systems to identify and destroy.

The state health department has urged residents to continue following safety guidelines, including wearing masks and social distancing.

 

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Today, 11 patients at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Community Vaccination Site experienced symptoms like nausea and dizziness after receiving the vaccine and, out of an abundance of caution, Centura transported two of the patients to the hospital for observation. EMTs on-site treated the other nine people with juice and water. 

The state has no reason to believe that people who were vaccinated today at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park should be concerned. Adverse reactions are typically immediate. Health care providers monitor patients for reactions after administering vaccines for at least 15 minutes after the injection (or for 30 minutes if the patient has a history of anaphylaxis) for this reason. This event is not impacting other vaccine providers. The actions taken today were out of an abundance of caution.

“We’re committed to providing safe community clinics, and we are so grateful that the clinic today properly observed and helped patients with immediate side effects. We know it can be alarming to hear about people getting transported to the hospital, and we want to reassure Coloradans that the CDC and public health are closely monitoring all the authorized vaccines continually. From what we know, today’s side effects were consistent with what can be expected,” said Scott Bookman, COVID-19 Incident Commander. “Getting a vaccine is far safer than getting severely sick with COVID-19. It’s why I got the vaccine, and why I’ve wanted my family to get it. Based on everything we know, it remains true that the best vaccine to get is the one you can get the soonest. Thank you to everyone who had to reschedule their appointments for their patience today.” 

According to VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, there have been 10 previous reactions documented at Community Vaccine Sites prior to today. VAERS is co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

In most cases, discomfort from fever or pain after getting the vaccine is normal. These symptoms show that your body’s immune system is responding to a vaccine. Other routine vaccines have similar side effects. For in-depth information about the potential side effects of this vaccine, see the CDC’s report on the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

Centura vaccinated over 1,700 patients at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park  today, and the 640 patients who were unable to receive their vaccine this afternoon were automatically rescheduled for Sunday, April 11. The site will be administering Pfizer doses on Sunday, which was previously allocated and scheduled for use for Sunday’s  appointments. Those who prefer Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) can find other vaccine clinics on our website at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.  Providers have been administering the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine since it was authorized by the FDA. CDPHE’s vaccine data dashboard shows that almost 80,000 doses of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine have been administered in Colorado since the beginning of March. 

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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DENVER – Today, Governor Jared Polis announced that starting this Friday, April 2nd, all Coloradans over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and all Coloradans over the age of 18 will be eligible to receive the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Governor shared that the State anticipates that everyone who wants it will have access to the vaccine before the end of May. He was joined by Brigadier General Scott Sherman to discuss the next phase of vaccine distribution. 

 

“Each vaccine is a step towards getting back to normal. Today is a monumental step forward in Colorado’s efforts to get vaccines to every person who wants one, and I want to thank our frontline heroes — both professional and volunteer — who have stepped up, racing to get shots into arms,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This is one of the greatest feats in human history, and we couldn’t have gotten to where we are now without their tireless efforts. Soon everyone in our state will be able to get the protection they need, but it’s going to take some time. It could be next week, it could be in five weeks. So while availability opens to everyone this Friday, April 2nd, be patient and know that your time will come.”

 

Currently, 70% of all Coloradans 60 and older have been vaccinated, including 79% of all Coloradans 70 and older, 71% of Coloradans 65-69, and 53% of Colordans 60-64. More than 1.5 million (1,579,599) Coloradans have received their first dose of tha vaccine, and almost 1 million (999,618) have been fully immunized. 

 

In order to meet its ambitious vaccination goals and get shots into arms as quickly as possible, Colorado has launched five Vaccines for All Community Vaccination Sites. Depending on supply, a maximum of 6,000 doses per day will be administered at each site, six days per week, for a total of 36,000 doses administered each week through the program. To date, 35,322 doses have been administered through these sites.

 

In the last two weeks, Governor Polis joined the launch of the Broadmoor World Arena site in Colorado Springs, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, and The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland. Five locations are open in five counties, and starting April 1 the state will partner with Denver County to launch a site at Ball Arena. Information about the community vaccination sites can be found below:

 

• Adams County – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park 
  • Sunday – Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Register: org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information/vaccine-events
  • Call: 720-263-5737
• El Paso County – Broadmoor World Arena
  • Friday – Monday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Register: org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information/vaccine-events
  • Call: 720-263-5737
• Mesa County – Grand Junction Convention Center
  • Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Register: mesacounty.us/covid19/vaccine/
• Larimer County – The Ranch Events Complex 
  • Monday – Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • Register: secure.force.com/Vaccine/
• Pueblo County – Colorado State Fairgrounds  
  • Friday – Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Register: org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information/vaccine-events
  • Call: 720-263-5737

 

Colorado also has numerous strategies in place to narrow gaps in vaccine distribution. In addition to standing up Community Vaccination Sites, the State’s Equity Outreach Team is working directly with community-based organizations, providers, local public health agencies, and Tribes to set up vaccine clinics in underserved communities across the state. As of today, 111 clinics have been completed, with 10-12 clinics completed per week on average. More than 75 clinics scheduled through April 6th are expected to administer 30,400+ doses.

 

Finally, Governor Polis announced that Colorado will be launching mobile vaccine clinics to create even more access for Coloradans in the coming weeks. These buses will travel to small communities and meet Coloradans where they are. More information will be coming as these clinics come online. 

 

The Governor delivered this good news with the caveat that this is still a time for caution. New cases and hospitalizations are holding steady, but emerging COVID-19 variants are cause for concern. For Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, it typically takes two weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means you can be infected from exposure to COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination. 

 

Please view the press conference on the Governor’s Facebook page. 

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The following is a summary of the vaccination phases and eligibility according to the Colorado Department of Health & Environment:

Phase 1A : Now vaccinating:

Highest-risk health care workers and individuals: 

• People who have direct contact with COVID-19 patientsfor 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. 
• Long-term care facilitystaff and residents.

 

Phase 1B.1: Now vaccinating:

Coloradans age 70+, moderate-risk health care workers, and first responders:

• Health care workerswith less direct contact with COVID-19 patients (e.g. home health, hospice, pharmacy, dental, etc.) and EMS.
• Firefighters, police,  COVID-19 response personnel, correctional workers,and funeral services.
• People age 70 and older.

 

Phase 1B.2: Now vaccinating:

Coloradans age 65-69, PK-12 educators and child care workers in licensed child care programs, and state government:

• People age 65-69.
• Child care workers in licensed child care programs, teachers (full-time and substitutes), bus, food, counselors, administrative, safety, and other support services offered inside the school.
• Select members of the executive and judicial branches of state government(members of the legislative branch have already received access to the vaccine).

 

Phase 1B.3: Now vaccinating:

People age 60 and older, frontline essential agricultural and grocery store workers, and people age 16-59 with two or more high-risk conditions:

• People age 60 and older.
• Frontline essential workers in grocery and agriculture:The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment, who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors, and in places with poor ventilation including meatpacking workers; grocery store workers; and agricultural processing workers.
• People age 16-59 with two or more of the following high-risk conditions:Cancer (defined as patients who are currently receiving treatment or have received treatment within the last month for cancer), chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes mellitus (types 1 and 2), Down syndrome, specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies or coronary heart disease, and severe valvular/congenital heart disease), obesity (BMI of 30 or more), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, solid organ transplant, individuals with disabilities who require direct care in their home, and people with disabilities that prevent them from wearing masks.

 

Phase 1B.4: Vaccinating beginning March 19:

People age 50 and older, frontline workers, people with high risk conditions, and the continuation of operations for state government and continuity of local government:

• People age 50 and older.
• Frontline workers in the following fields:
  • Higher education:The intent of this classification is to prioritize current educators who work in close contact with many people especially indoors, including all student-facing staff in community colleges and colleges. Student-facing staff includes instructors, professors, vocational educators and staff providing safety and other support services offered inside the school.
  • Food/restaurant services: The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment, who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors, including but not limited to restaurant cooks, dishwashers, servers, and other workers in restaurant settings; and food pantry/assistance workers.
  • Manufacturing:The intent of this classification is to prioritize workers in manufacturing settings who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment and workers who work in close contact with many people, especially indoors and in places with poor ventilation.
  • US postal service:The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who work for the US postal service in positions where they cannot maintain physical distance at work and work in close contact with many people, especially indoors. This includes post office clerks and mail sorters.
  • Public transit and specialized transportation:The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers in public transit and who have specialized transportation staff who cannot maintain physical distance from others at their place of employment, workers who work in close contact with many people especially indoors including but not limited to bus drivers, specialized transportation staff who work in our tunnels, specialized transportation staff such as air traffic controllers, train conductors, pilots, and airline stewards.
  • Public health:The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers in governmental public health agencies with public facing duties and heightened risk of exposure. This includes public health and environment staff, including inspectors, engaged in direct public health service delivery.
  • Human service workers:The intent of this classification is to prioritize current workers who cannot maintain physical distance at their place of employment in the course of their work, such as those who work in close contact with other people, especially indoors. This includes but is not limited to social workers, community health workers, those who work in client homes, in community locations, and at human services work locations, and others who provide direct or in-person services to elderly and disabled populations, at domestic violence advocacy organizations, or in-person resource providers.
  • Faith leaders:The intent of this classification is to prioritize those who in the course of leading faith services cannot easily maintain physical distance and must come into close contact with other people indoors. This includes current faith leaders who must enter hospitals or other care facilities to perform last rites, who officiate life rites such as weddings and baptisms, and who lead worship services.
  • Direct care providers for Coloradans experiencing homelessness:The intent of this classification is to prioritize workers who work in close contact with many other people, especially indoors, including but not limited to those who work and provide direct services in shelters for people experiencing homelessness.
  • Journalists:The intent of this classification is to prioritize journalists who in the course of their work cannot easily maintain physical distance and come into contact with the public in the course of their work while conducting interviews or covering live events, especially indoors.
• Continuity of local government:The intent of this classification is to ensure the continuity of county, municipal and other local governments. It includes select executives of those governments and a limited amount of essential support staff needed to provide for continuity of government, including members of the judicial branch who regularly come into contact with the public (e.g. state and county court trial judges, court administrators, public defenders and probation staff.)
• Continuation of operations for state government:The intent of this classification is to ensure the continuity of essential state government services. It includes select staff needed to deliver essential services to the people of Colorado , as identified in the agencies’ continuity of operations plans.
• People age 16 to 49 with one of the following higher risk conditions:The intent of this classification is to vaccinate Coloradans who have risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. It includes Coloradans with one condition listed in 1B.3 or asthma (moderate-to-severe), Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain), Cystic fibrosis, Hypertension or high blood pressure, Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines, Neurologic conditions, such as dementia, Liver disease, Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues), Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder). 
• Adults who received a placebo during a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.

 

Phase 2: Vaccinating anticipated to begin in mid-April:

The general public.

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