Polis Administration announces new steps to combat monkeypox in Colorado
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- Governor Polis' Office has announced additional steps the administration is taking to combat monkeypox in the state.
According to the Governor's Office, additional vaccine clinics will be opened and treatment and testing will be expanded across the state as federal allocation increases. At this time, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has enrolled more than 30 providers across the state to administer vaccines and is working to enroll more.
Currently, clinics are fully booked through Aug. 13.
The CDPHE has a form available for Coloradans to determine if they are eligible to receive the vaccine per current criteria. You can confirm your eligibility by filling out the online form here. Those who are eligible will be added to a waitlist and contacted when more vaccines become available from the federal government.
The Governor's Office said "to be as transparent as possible," the state has created a dashboard of current monkeypox statistics in the state that it updates Tuesday - Friday at 10 a.m. According to the state, as of Aug. 4, Colorado has 79 cases.
People who are experiencing monkeypox symptoms or think they have been exposed should contact a healthcare provider immediately. If you do not have a healthcare provider or health insurance, you can visit the CDPHE's monkeypox webpage to find a list of testing sites.