COVID vaccinations ongoing for 1A and some 1B categories
PRESS RELEASE
Jan. 4, 2021
Valley View and Grand River Health hospitals are currently administering the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available to people in 1A and some of the groups listed in the 1B categories.
Please follow along for updates on the Garfield County vaccines page.
Who is currently being vaccinated and where can I get more information?
People age 70 and older
Contact the hospital to make a vaccine appointment. Appointments will be made as vaccine supplies become available. For Valley View Hospital, call 970-384-7632. For Grand River Health, call 970-625-1100. Please note that it will take several weeks to vaccinate everyone in this category. Please be patient and know that as vaccine supplies arrive, additional appointments will become available.
Phase 1A and 1B agencies in only the following categories:
* 1A Highest-risk health care workers and individuals who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients
* Long-term care facility staff and residents
* 1B Moderate-risk health care workers and responders with less direct contact with COVID-19 patients (e.g. home health, hospice, pharmacy, dental etc.) and EMS.
* Firefighters, police, COVID response personnel, correctional workers, and funeral services.
Eligible 1A and 1B agencies should complete a pre-registration form online and may contact the health department at garcovaccine@garfield-county.com or 970-665-6371 if they have additional questions.
The following 1B groups are not yet being vaccinated:
* 1B categories below the marked line on the Garfield County or state vaccine graph.
* Frontline essential workers in education, food and agriculture, manufacturing, postal service, public transit and specialized transportation staff, grocery, public health, frontline essential human service workers, and direct care providers for Coloradoans experiencing homelessness.
* Essential officials from executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government.
* Essential frontline journalists.
Please see the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s COVID vaccine page for more information on Phase 2 and Phase 3 groups anticipated to be vaccinated in the Spring and Summer.
“Though we are serving those in the 70 and older category, our hospitals are getting a large number of phone calls from people looking to make appointments. We want people to know that vaccinating everyone in this category will take some time and some patience. People who live in Garfield County and fall into this age group will be vaccinated, but it may take several weeks as we wait for enough vaccine to arrive,” said Garfield County Public Health Director Yvonne Long.
More about vaccines for the 70 and older group in Garfield County:
No walk-ins are being accepted at this time. An appointment is required to receive the vaccine.
Vaccine scheduling hotlines are open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To make an appointment at Grand River Health call 970-625-1100. To make an appointment at Valley View Hospital call the COVID-19 Community Hotline at 970-384-7632.
Scheduling is based on the availability of vaccine doses.
Garfield County residents who are 70 years and older and have additional health complications should reach out to their primary care provider. Primary care practices may refer high-risk patients who are 70 years and older directly to hospitals for priority scheduling.
Individuals must be a resident of Garfield County. Residents are defined as those with a permanent mailing or physical address within Garfield County or, those who own property in Garfield County and reside there for longer than 30 days at a time. Residents of other counties should look to their respective public health agencies for information on how they may receive the vaccine. Eagle County residents can find information online. Pitkin County has information available on its website.
Two doses of the vaccine are required. All those being scheduled will be asked to confirm their ability to receive the second dose to ensure maximum efficacy of the vaccine. The vaccine is free, and no administration fee is charged.
Vaccine information for other demographic groups:
Garfield County Public Health is posting frequent updates in the news media, on Facebook @garfieldhealth, and on our website on the COVID & Public Health page. To navigate to the COVID & Public Health page from the main Garfield County site, click the red COVID & Public Health rectangle at the top of the page. Sign up to be notified about Garfield County COVID news at garfieldcounty.net.