Every adult in Colorado qualifies for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot due to the widespread outbreak hitting the state right now, KDVR reports.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said Wednesday it is following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KDVR reports.
- “You should get a booster dose if you are 18 to 64 years old and at high risk because of where you live or work,” the department said, per KDVR.
- “Because disease spread is so significant across Colorado, all Coloradans (ages 18+) qualify for a booster,” the department said.
Colorado also issued a public health order to stop any COVID-19 vaccine provider from refusing to give out boosters to people.
- Like Utah, Colorado is one of the nation’s hot spots for the coronavirus right now. Colorado will reportedly look to stop any superspreader events, such as hockey or basketball games in arenas.
Per the Deseret News reporting, five Mountain West states — Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico — are averaging 50 new cases a day per 100,000 residents, according to data collected by the Mayo Clinic.
- There are only five other states even near that number, including North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, New Hampshire and Alaska.
Stephen Goldstein, a virologist and postdoctoral researcher with the University of Utah School of Medicine, told the Deseret News it’s unclear why cases are rising so high.
- “To some extent, it’s difficult to say why certain areas, I think, are having their big surges at particular times. Like, why us now and the Midwest previously, the South earlier in the summer,” he said.
- “I am concerned that we could stay at this pretty high level for a while,” Goldstein said. “I don’t know if I would predict we’re going to see another big spike from where we are now. But even staying around this level for the next couple of months would be pretty devastating.”