State tells Fremont County man he’s eligible for booster despite never receiving COVID vaccine

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A Fremont County man who's never been vaccinated against COVID-19 wants to know why he is getting texts from the state telling him he's due for a booster.

Friday, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced text messages with booster shot information would begin to be sent out to anyone who received their first two doses more than six months ago. The contact information was pulled from the state's vaccination database.

According to the state, the texts would go out to more than 1 million Coloradans.

"I thought it was a fishing scam and I didn't pay any attention to it," said Mike McCullough.

In the text messages, state health officials informed McCullough he is eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot. However, McCullough never received a single dose of the vaccine in the first place.

“I have no intention of ever getting it. So I am not eligible for a booster," said McCullough. "I got this funny text saying hey I can tell work now that I’m fully vaccinated. So they can stop with the testing every week if you can’t prove your vaccination.”

13 Investigates asked CDPHE if there is a reason why someone ineligible for a booster would receive these text messages, but they wouldn't answer any questions about why someone who never got the vaccine would get the message too.

Text messages are sent to anyone above the age of 18 who is six months past their second dose. According to CDPHE, they are ready to offer boosters to any Coloradans six months past their second dose.

According to the state, Coloradans eligible would receive a message sent from 45778. McCullough's text appears to have come from that number.

McCullough currently works for the state of Colorado and received the message on his work cell phone which is paid for by the state.