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The first FDA-authorized vaccines for COVID-19 are now being administered. Clinical trials have shown the vaccines may be 94 to 95 percent effective after the second dose in preventing COVID-19 for those who have been vaccinated. Given this, UCHealth experts recommend that everyone get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
All COVID-19 vaccinations must follow the distribution guidelines from the state of Colorado. At this time, there is not enough of the COVID-19 vaccine to offer it to everyone. As UCHealth receives shipments of the vaccine, we are providing it as quickly as possible according to the state’s plan.
An appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Colorado’s phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution are based on federal guidelines to give the limited supply of vaccines in a fair, ethical and transparent way. The state of Colorado has established a three-phased plan for distribution.
Colorado’s COVID-19 vaccination plan will evolve as more information about vaccines becomes available. For more information on the vaccination plan, visit Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has set up a distribution plan for the vaccine with three phases. All COVID-19 vaccinations must follow the distribution guidelines from the State of Colorado.
The first phase of vaccinations, which began in December, includes health care workers, people in residential nursing facilities, first responders and the highest-risk individuals including those 70 years old and older.
According to the state of Colorado’s plan and current estimates of vaccine availability, higher-risk people may be able to be vaccinated in the spring of 2021 (phase 2), and the general public in the summer of 2021 (phase 3). The CDPHE expects it may take at least a year to give COVID-19 vaccines to all in the state who want one.
Clinical trials are evaluating COVID-19 vaccines in tens of thousands of study participants. Information from these trials will allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decide how safe and effective they are. Ongoing, long-term monitoring will continue as it does for all vaccine development. No steps in the normal vaccine development process have been skipped or shortened. UCHealth experts recommend that everyone get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
All phase 3 clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine candidates are overseen by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). This board acts across all of the trials for all of the sponsors. The FDA and vaccine manufacturers are releasing data from their trials publicly.
Once you are on the list and vaccines are offered for the distribution phase that you are in, you will receive one of the following:
No, an appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We cannot accept walk-ins.
To get on the list to receive the vaccine, please see the question and answer directly above.
Not at this time. Currently, we do not have enough vaccine doses to offer it to everyone in phase 1B. As UCHealth receives shipments of the vaccine, we are providing it as quickly as possible, according to the state’s plan. As we receive additional quantities of vaccine, we will send vaccination invitations through our randomized selection process to give everyone the same chance of receiving a vaccine.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both require a second shot after you receive your first shot. The second shot is very important for you to get full protection from COVID-19.
Appointment times are very limited. Please make every attempt to keep your originally scheduled appointment. We are unable to reschedule the second shot at this time.
Early results from clinical trials have shown that some vaccines may be 94 to 95 percent effective after the second dose in preventing COVID-19 for those who have been vaccinated. Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help keep you from getting very sick, even if you do get COVID-19. Getting vaccinated may also protect the people around you, especially those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Clinical trials have shown the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may provide limited protection after 1 dose. These vaccines require 2 doses for full protection.
Clinical trials reported efficacy (how well the vaccine prevented COVID-19) beginning at 1 week after the second dose. In those trials, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines prevented 94 to 95% of COVID-19 cases, compared to control groups of people who received a placebo.
Many of the COVID-19 vaccines require 2 doses. It often takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after getting the vaccine. That means a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after getting the vaccine and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.