COVID-19 Vaccine

We are providing vaccines to Colorado residents
age 12 or older.

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine

There are two options to get the COVID-19 vaccine:

To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, please use My Health Connection, UCHealth’s online patient portal, to see available appointments. You do not need to be a UCHealth patient in order to get a vaccine.

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For those 12 to 17 years old:

For your first dose at a UCHealth vaccine clinic, you must:

Please plan to check in online prior to your appointment. At that time, you will be asked to provide or confirm your insurance information. While we will bill your insurance company for administration of the vaccine, patients will not receive a bill from UCHealth. If you do not use online check-in, please bring your insurance card to your appointment.


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UCHealth vaccine tracker

650,200
Doses
administered by
UCHealth
328,900
People who have
received one
vaccine dose
321,300
People who have
received both
vaccine doses
4,000
UCHealth
upcoming
appointments
Last updated: 7/8/2021

With the goal of helping organizations deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to their communities,
we developed a playbook to share our learnings from successful mass vaccination events.

Get the UCHealth mass vaccination playbook

Get answers to your COVID-19 vaccine questions

These questions and answers are updated as new information is available.

When, where, and who?

Vaccine safety

Vaccine distribution

Vaccine and your health

The COVID-19 vaccine: When, where, and who?

COVID-19 vaccine - when, where, who icon | UCHealth

When will the vaccine be available:

UCHealth is currently providing COVID-19 vaccines for Colorado residents age 12 or older.

About the COVID-19 vaccines

What are the different COVID-19 vaccine options?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) to permit the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people who are age 12 or older, and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines for people who are age 18 or older.

Which COVID-19 vaccine is best?

Clinical trials have shown that all the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and safe. The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be 94 to 95 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection after the second dose. Study participants are being followed and data updates will be released over time.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be 66 percent effective overall at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 infection, 28 days after vaccination.

UCHealth will offer COVID-19 vaccines that have been reviewed by the FDA and CDC as they are released and distributed. At this time, it is not possible for patients to request a specific brand of vaccine.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines that are being developed all made the same way?

No. Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines. Johnson & Johnson is a vector vaccine.

mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This helps our cells make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build specialized white blood cells against the virus protein (it does not attack your normal body proteins). These will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19, if we are exposed or infected in the future.

Vector vaccines contain a weakened version of a live virus. This is a different virus (Adenovirus, a cause of the common cold) than the one that causes COVID-19, but with a small amount of genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This is called a viral vector. Once the viral vector is inside our cells, the genetic material helps make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. Our cells can then make copies of the protein. This prompts our bodies to build specialized cells that will remember how to fight the COVID-19 virus if we are exposed or infected in the future.

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How was a vaccine for COVID-19 developed so quickly?

Scientists didn’t start from scratch. They built on many years of research that was already done with previous respiratory viruses such as the viruses that caused SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). These are other coronaviruses in the same family as COVID-19. It can take longer to test a vaccine if a virus is not common in the population. Researchers often have to wait for a certain number of people in studies to get sick. They can then compare vaccinated groups to the placebo groups. Because COVID-19 has been widespread in communities and spreading easily, the trials were able to move forward in shorter than usual timeframes. No steps in the normal vaccine development process have been skipped. Safety and efficacy were tested the same way as all other vaccines.
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How many doses will I need of the COVID-19 vaccine?

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require 2 doses. These are given 21 (Pfizer) and 28 (Moderna) days apart, depending on which vaccine you receive. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.

COVID-19 vaccine safety

COVID-19 vaccine safety icon - UCHealth

How do we know COVID-19 vaccines are safe?

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.

Will the findings of the COVID-19 vaccine trials be made public and reviewed by independent experts?

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.

Did the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials include people of color?

Yes. Clinical trials included thousands of people of color. Michael Rouse was among those who participated in the Moderna trial. Learn more about why Michael opted to participate.

For the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, about 13% of study participants were Latino, 10% were Black, 5.5% were Asian and 1% were Native American.

For the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, about 20% of study participants were Latino, 10% were Black, 4% were Asian and 3% were from other ethnic and racial groups.

For the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, about 15% of the clinical trial’s U.S. participants are Latino, 13% are Black/African American, 6% are Asian and 1% are Native American.

For all three COVID-19 vaccines, efficacy was slightly better among Black or African American trial participants than among Caucasians. Efficacy for preventing COVID-19 in African Americans vs. Caucasians was 100% vs 95%, 100% vs 94%, and 69% vs 66% respectively for Pfizer, Moderna and J&J.

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Additional vaccine safety FAQs

Should I be worried about a severe allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine?

Severe allergic reactions were not common during COVID-19 vaccine trials. They occurred more frequently after the second dose. We recommend that you stay at your appointment for about 5-10 minutes of observation after getting the vaccine.

If you have a history of a severe allergic reaction to another vaccine, you should talk to your doctor or provider to see if getting the COVID-19 vaccine makes sense for you.

The CDC recommends that people with a history of severe allergic reactions, that are not related to vaccines or injectable medications (such as food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex allergies) should still get vaccinated. People with a history of allergies to oral medications or a family history of severe allergic reactions may also get vaccinated.

If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions.

Are COVID-19 vaccinations safe for pregnant people and nursing mothers?

Yes. There is no evidence the COVID-19 vaccines cause problems for those who are pregnant or nursing. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19 infection. If you are pregnant or breast feeding, you may choose to be vaccinated. Please discuss with your doctor so that you can make an informed decision.

> I’m pregnant. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine? (Click to view/download this file.)

Could the COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems?

No. There is no evidence the COVID-19 vaccines cause problems for those trying to get pregnant. The vaccine does not get incorporated into or change the DNA of the body’s cells in any way. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are trying to become pregnant, you do not need to delay getting pregnant after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Data shows that during the Pfizer vaccine trial for example, some women in the study became pregnant. For those that received the vaccine and not the placebo, none of them suffered a pregnancy loss.

What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines?

In general, the side effects for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are similar, and are like those of the flu shot. The most commonly reported side effects are pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. They usually last only a few days.

For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, you may experience more side effects after the second dose. This is expected and was seen in studies of these vaccines. These side effects usually only last 1 to 3 days at most. Contact your doctor, health care provider or schedule a virtual visit if:

  • The redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours.
  • Your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.
  • You have any cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, loss of sense of taste or smell – these are not side effects we see from the vaccine. These could be symptoms of COVID-19 not related to the vaccine, and you should contact your provider to find out if you should be tested.

After you receive the vaccine, you can take a pain reliever for any symptoms that are bothersome. Current data suggests that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the best pain reliever to take within 48 hours of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

We recommend that you stay at your appointment for about 5 – 10 minutes of observation after getting the vaccine. If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions.

I am allergic to the flu vaccine. Do you think there will be a problem with getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Unlike most of the flu vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines are not made using egg-based products. If you are allergic to any vaccines, or have other conditions you are concerned may impact your response to the COVID vaccine, you should talk with your doctor before signing up to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Is a COVID-19 vaccine safe for me? Could it interfere with any of my medications or medical conditions?

Clinical trials are evaluating COVID-19 vaccines in tens of thousands of study participants. Trial volunteers include people with lots of different medical conditions. 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. If you have any concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your doctor or provider.

What can I do to prepare before getting my COVID-19 vaccine?

One of the best things to do before getting a COVID-19 vaccination is to stay hydrated, and follow these tips.

Additional vaccine information for children age 12 or older

The Pfizer vaccine has received Emergency Use Authorization for children age 12 or older. Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe for children?

Yes. The Pfizer vaccine trial results show that the vaccine is safe and effective for children age 12 or older. The recent Pfizer trial included thousands of children ages 12 through 17. Trial results show that the vaccine was 100 percent effective. Of the group that received the vaccine (and not the placebo), none of them got COVID-19.

Children had side effects similar to young adults. The main side effects are pain at injection site, fever, and feeling achy or tired. These were experienced more often after the second dose of the vaccine and went away within a few days.

How many doses will children need of a COVID-19 vaccine?

Children age 12-17 will require 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, given 21 days apart.

Children don’t get very sick with COVID-19. Why should I get my child vaccinated?

While children are at a lower risk of serious illness from COVID-19, they make up a larger share of the new virus cases across the U.S. as more adults get vaccinated. Children can still have symptoms and spread the virus to the adults around them. And doctors don’t always know which children are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19 and need hospital care. Getting a vaccine will lower the chance of illness for all children.

People under age 21 make up about 25% of the U.S. population. If many children get a COVID-19 vaccine, the chance of reaching herd immunity – when lots of people are immune to a disease – goes up.

There are many safe and effective vaccines for children for diseases like whooping cough, measles and meningitis. Providing vaccines for COVID-19 will become a standard measure of care to protect children.

Will the COVID-19 vaccine affect fertility in children?

No. The vaccine does not get incorporated into or change the DNA of the body’s cells in any way. There is no reason to worry that the vaccine will affect your child’s fertility.

My child already had COVID-19. Should they get the vaccine?

Yes. We don’t know how long immunity lasts after someone gets COVID-19. The vaccine is made to create a longer-lasting immune response.

My child is a not a patient at UCHealth. Can they get a vaccine at a UCHealth vaccine clinic?

Yes. Your child does not need to be a UCHealth patient in order to get a vaccine.

There are two options to get the COVID-19 vaccine:

How can I schedule a vaccine appointment for my child?

Scheduling an appointment for children ages 12 and 13:

  • If your child has a My Health Connection account, they can schedule a vaccine on the appointments page. Or a parent or guardian can schedule for them by selecting their name from their personal My Health Connection account.
  • If your child doesn’t have a My Health Connection account:
    • In My Health Connection, click “Request Account Access” under “Tools” at the top of the screen.
    • Complete the online form.
    • You will be notified in a My Health Connection message when you have access to your child’s account. Then you can schedule an appointment for your child.

Scheduling an appointment for children ages 14 through 17:

  • If your child has a My Health Connection account, they can schedule a vaccine on the appointments page.
  • If your child doesn’t have a My Health Connection account:
    • Your child must have a My Health Connection account, or sign up for an account here.
    • Once they have an account, your child can schedule a vaccine in My Health Connection on the website or the UCHealth mobile app.

For their first dose at a UCHealth vaccine clinic, your child must:

COVID-19 vaccine distribution

COVID-19 vaccine distribution icon - UCHealth

Who is UCHealth currently vaccinating?

UCHealth is currently providing COVID-19 vaccines for Colorado residents age 12 or older.

How do I get a COVID-19 vaccination?

You can schedule an appointment through My Health Connection, our online patient portal. Or you can walk in to any of our vaccine clinics.

To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, please use My Health Connection, UCHealth’s online patient portal, to see available appointments. You do not need to be a UCHealth patient in order to get a vaccine.

Can I walk in and get a COVID-19 vaccination?

Yes. An appointment is not required.

Walk-in Vaccine Clinic Information

PLEASE NOTE: all people under 18 must have a parent or guardian with them for their first dose at a UCHealth vaccine clinic, OR have a parent or guardian print and sign the Vaccine Consent Form for Minors (versión en español) and bring it with them.

Location Directions Dates and Hours
University of Colorado Hospital
12605 E. 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045		 Vaccine clinic: Bruce Schroffel Conference Center – Located in the Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion 2.

Parking: Park in lot 6, valet or garage 8 (employee garage)

 Fridays 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Medical Center of the Rockies
2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue
Loveland, CO 89538		 Vaccine clinic: Navajo Peak Conference Room

Parking: Use the main entrance. Valet parking available.

 Fridays 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Yampa Valley Medical Center
1024 Central Park Drive
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487		 Vaccine clinic: Conference room 6

Parking: Use the main entrance

 Call 970.879.1322 and ask for COVID-19 vaccine clinic dates and times.
Memorial Administrative Center (MAC)
2420 E. Pikes Peak Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80909		 Vaccine clinic: Cuchara Room

Parking: Park in the main lot. Use West entrance.

 Fridays 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

I missed my appointment for my second dose of the vaccine. What should I do?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both require a second dose. It is important to get your second dose within 42 days of your first dose, and we strongly recommend that you get both doses of the vaccine to help stop the spread of COVID-19 variants.

Please use My Health Connection, UCHealth’s online patient portal, to reschedule your COVID-19 vaccine.

You can also walk in to any of our vaccine clinics – see table above for locations and times.

Can I get my 2nd vaccine dose a few days earlier than 21 days (Pfizer) or 28 days (Moderna) after the first dose?

The second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be given as close to the recommended timing as possible, but not earlier than recommended (21 days for Pizer and 28 days for Moderna). However, second doses given up to 4 days earlier than the recommended date for the second dose are still considered valid. A second dose should not be given earlier than 17 days after the first dose for the Pfizer vaccine, and 24 days after the first dose for the Moderna vaccine.

How can I cancel my appointment?

Please go to your My Health Connection account to cancel your appointment. If you are unable to cancel it in My Health Connection, call the UCHealth COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 720.462.2255 for assistance.

How can I reschedule my appointments?

If you need to reschedule, you need to cancel your appointments in My Health Connection first and then complete the scheduling steps again.

Once I’m vaccinated, where can I find my vaccination record?

If you receive the COVID-19 vaccine through UCHealth, “Your COVID-19 Information” page will show your vaccination record. It will also show the results of any COVID-19 nasal swab or antibody tests you have had at UCHealth.

  • My Health Connection mobile app: Click “Your COVID-19 Information” on the home screen.
  • My Health Connection desktop: Go to “Tools”, then select “Your COVID-19 Information”.

How can I get help getting to or from a vaccine clinic?
* We will continue to update this list as more resources and regions are added.

IntelliRide (Medicaid-reimbursed ride; Region: Any location in Colorado)

    • If you have active Medicaid benefits, call IntelliRide to schedule a ride to your appointment. You must schedule your ride at least 2 business days in advance.
    • Call: 303.398.2155

Elder Concierge (Self-pay, all ages, Region: Metro Denver)

    • Elder Concierge will take you to and from appointments for walk-in or drive thru clinics. Cost is $65 an hour (self-pay only) within the Metro Denver region. Call to schedule.
    • Call: 720.569.1005

Via Transport (No cost ride for ages 60+, Region: Denver/Boulder)

    • Rides available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Call Via Transport to get registered in the system and schedule a ride. Rides are available Monday through Friday in the Denver/Boulder area, and can be used for walk-in or drive thru clinics.
    • Call: 303.444.3043

Access-a-Ride through RTD (No cost ride for members, Region: Metro Denver)

    • If you are an Access-a-Ride member, you can call and schedule a ride to any walk-in vaccine clinic in the Metro Denver area.
    • Call: 303.292.6560

Envida (Medicaid reimbursed ride, Region: Colorado Springs)

    • If you are a Health First Colorado (Medicaid) client, call Envida to schedule a ride to your appointment.
    • Call: 719.633.4677

COVID-19 vaccine and your health

COVID-19 and your health icon - UCHealth

How much will a COVID-19 vaccine reduce the risks or complications of COVID-19?

Early results from clinical trials have shown that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may be 94 to 95 percent effective after the second dose in preventing COVID-19 for those who have been vaccinated. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has shown to be 66 percent effective overall at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, 28 days after vaccination.

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.

The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require 2 doses. Will I have any protection after the first dose?

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.

After I get the vaccine, how long does it take before I have full protection?

You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and 2 weeks after the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Can I get COVID-19 even after getting the vaccine?

The Pfizer and Moderna 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.

Additional vaccine and your health FAQs

Do I need to still wear a mask after getting the vaccine?

Per the CDC guidelines, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, or two weeks after they received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

According to current public health recommendations:

  • Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask, except where required by federal, state or local guidelines, including local business and workplace guidance.
  • Fully vaccinated people will continue to wear a mask in all UCHealth facilities.
  • Fully vaccinated people who have a condition, or who are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their doctor. They may need to keep wearing a mask and social distancing to prevent COVID-19.

Will the COVID-19 vaccines protect me against new versions (mutations) of the COVID-19 virus?

At this time, experts believe the COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be effective against new versions of the COVID-19 virus. Additional research is being conducted to determine if the current vaccines work on the new mutations. The CDC advises that the best way to protect yourself and others from new versions of COVID-19 is to continue wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often.

If I already had COVID-19 and have recovered from it, do I need to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

There is not enough information yet to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again; this is called natural immunity. Early data suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long. More studies are needed to better understand this.

UCHealth experts recommend that everyone get a COVID-19 vaccine, even if you already had COVID-19.

Once I get a COVID-19 vaccine, how long am I protected for? Will yearly booster shots be needed?

Studies are currently ongoing regarding whether or not people will need to get a COVID-19 booster, and how often a booster would need to be given. It is likely that boosters or annual vaccines may be needed, similar to a flu shot.

Will I need to get a Pfizer booster if I received a Pfizer vaccine? (Same question for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.)

If a COVID-19 booster is needed, it is likely that it would be created to best protect against variant strains, rather than using the original formula. If this is the case, it may not matter what vaccine you received originally.

Will a booster protect me from COVID-19 variants?

Current data suggests that the available COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the variants that are currently circulating in the United Sates. If a COVID-19 booster is needed, it is likely that it would be created to best protect against variant strains that are circulating at that time, rather than using the original formula – but this is still not known.

We’ll get through this together

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