How will the expanded vaccine eligibility work in El Paso County?
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- All Coloradans 16 and older will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.
With the majority of Coloradans becoming eligible to get the vaccine, 13 Investigates is working to understand how providers in El Paso County will handle the influx of those signing up for a vaccine.
The expanded eligibility comes the same week that some people with vaccine appointments were turned away from the Broadmoor World Arena mass vaccination clinic after too many doses were administered to people without appointments.
"We work with all of our vaccine providers to help them have best practices around their vaccine appointments. We are all doing the best we can to vaccinate everyone who wants vaccine. However, we do encourage appointments as the way to ensure that everybody who is coming to a vaccine site is going to get a vaccine," Powell.
Health officials warn it may take sometime to actually get an appointment after becoming elligible.
"The fact that everyone is eligible for vaccine doesn't necessarily mean that we have had an increase in availability of vaccines," Lisa Powell said.
If you can't make your scheduled vaccine appointment, health officials ask you to notify the vaccine provider so someone else on the list can get the dose.
"Getting vaccine in arms is what's most important. So the best vaccine to get is the one that's available. Please don't wait for a specific vaccine that you think is going to be better or that you prefer the name of. Get the vaccine that you have an appointment for," Powell said.
