DENVER – On Friday, Governor Jared Polis revealed that access to the COVID-19 vaccine would be expanded from February 8, leaving some coloradanos still waiting to receive the vaccine in question.
“I want everyone aged 70 and over to be vaccinated before the rest of us, before me.” Marti Demarest said.
Demarest was one of several people who sent an email to Denver7 after Polis’ announcement on Friday.
“Can you be sure that everyone over 70 is vaccinated before opening it to the youngest?” Demarest said while holding back tears.
Since December, Demarest has said he is trying to give his 91-year-old father a COVID-19 vaccine.
“It makes me angry, very frustrated, because my husband signed up for a vaccine on Sunday with UCHealth, but I can’t get my father,” said Demarest. “I look at King Soopers and Safeway, SEL Health Clinic, Banner, UCHealth and Kaiser every day, but I can’t get any information on where he is on the list, and that has been the frustrating part.”
The expanded access will begin on February 8 and will include all Colorado residents aged 65 to 69, educators and child care workers.
The state is still working to vaccinate at least 70% of residents aged 70 and over by the end of February, Polis said on Friday. In response to questions about expanding eligibility and how it would affect those who are currently waiting for the vaccine, Polis said the vaccine’s distribution must be expanded to use the supply.
“It is very important to open it before reaching 70%. If you wait that long, you will have a period of two or three weeks in which you will not administer as many doses as you can because there are not enough people you meet who serve these strict criteria, “said Polis.
He also added that, as eligibility expands, the state expects to have at least half of Colorado’s 70-year-old or older population vaccinated.
“Some are still registered and waiting. If you are 70, you have friends, parents, loved ones, who are – they are going to receive it in the coming weeks, ”said Polis.
The Governor’s Office referred Denver7 to this document with additional questions it received about the new schedule.
Demarest said he was trying to remain optimistic about his father getting a vaccine.
“I’m not going to take one before my dad can do it,” said Demarest.