DENVER – On Friday, government Jared Polis revealed that access to the COVID-19 vaccine would be expanded from February 8, and some Coloradans would still be waiting to receive the vaccine in question.
“I want all the people who are 70 years and older to be vaccinated before the rest of us.” Marti Demarest said.
Demarest was one of several people who emailed Denver7 following Police’s Friday announcement.
“Can you make sure everyone older than 70 is vaccinated before opening it up to younger ones?” Demarest said as he held back tears.
Since December, Demarest has said she is trying to get her 91-year-old father a COVID-19 vaccine.
“It makes me angry, very frustrated, because my husband was enrolled at UCHealth on Sunday for a vaccine, but I can not get my father,” Demarest said. “I watch King Soopers, and Safeway, SEL Health Clinic, Banner, UCHealth and Kaiser every day, but I can not get any information back on where he is on a list, and that was the frustrating part.”
The expanded admission begins on Feb. 8 and will include all Coloradans ages 65-69, educators and child care workers.
The state is still vaccinating at least 70% of residents 70 and older by the end of February, Police said Friday. Asked about the expanded suitability and how it will affect those currently waiting for the vaccine, Polis said the distribution of vaccines needs to be expanded to take advantage of the offer.
“It is very important to open it before you reach 70%. If you wait that long, you are going to have a period of two or three weeks where you just do not administer as many doses as you get because there are no ‘enough people you find do not meet the rigid criteria for doing so,’ Polis said.
He also added that by the time the election expands, the state hopes that at least half of the population aged 70 and older in Colorado should be vaccinated.
“Some are still logged in and waiting. If you are 70 years old, you have friends, parents, loved ones. They will get it in the next few weeks,” Polis said.
The Governors’ Office referred Denver7 to this document with additional questions they received about the new timeline.
Demarest said she was trying to remain optimistic about her father receiving a vaccine.
“I’m not going to take one until my dad gets one,” Demarest said.