1st Moderna Vaccine Distributed in San Miguel County

23 Dec 1st Moderna Vaccine Distributed in San Miguel County

San Miguel County Public Health and the Telluride Regional Medical Center have received their first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Distribution has begun for Phase I recipients which includes frontline healthcare and emergency services workers.

For more information surrounding COVID resources, testing and the concern form, visit here.

For more information surrounding the state’s COVID-19 dial, visit here.

Grace Franklin, County Public Health Director.

“This is truly the moment the world has been waiting for, we’re taking the first step in ending the pandemic. We could not be prouder of our frontline workers for the hard work put forth over the last many months,” said Public Health Director Grace Franklin. “We are working diligently to vaccinate Phase I recipients and will continue to work rapidly to get our residents immunized in the coming months. Rest assured, we will get through each Phase as quickly as supply allows.”

The first recipient at the Uncompahgre Medical Center was Robin Richards Templin, PA, her vaccinator was Codi Alexander, MA.

“Our frontline workers have been helping our community get through this pandemic with grace and compassion,” said Andrew Brown PA-C at the Uncompahgre Medical Center. “We are excited to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, especially for our residents.”

The first recipients at the Telluride Regional Medical Center included Dr. Diana Koelliker and Dr. Paul Koelliker. Vaccinators included TRMC Laboratory Manager Nancy Landon and TRMC Laboratory Technician and Paramedic Steve Langion.

“It can’t be understated how excited we are to give Dr. Diana Koelliker and Dr. Paul Koelliker the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines,” said San Miguel County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Grundy. “Together they make up 50 percent of our emergency department. Keeping them safe means they’re available to help the whole community. If one of them were to get COVID-19 or end up a close contact of someone confirmed to have COVID-19, we’d lose them both for at least 7 to 10 days. They represent the challenges of rural medicine, where the limited supply of medical healthcare personnel, along with COVID-19 caseloads, compound to create serious capacity issues.”

The rollout of vaccines will continue on a weekly basis with the first of two rounds of Phase I vaccine distribution projected to be completed within the coming weeks, pending supply from the State of Colorado.

For more information regarding the subsequent phases of the Moderna vaccine distribution in San Miguel County, please visit our COVID website and sign up for the Public Health newsletter.

There have been 398 total COVID cases among residents to date with 40 active cases. To learn more about the County’s current COVID-19 metrics, please visit the County COVID-19 dashboard.

San Miguel County will continue posting caseload updates twice a week. The next update will be published on Friday, December 25.

Five Commitments of Containment:

Wear a mask
Maintain six feet of physical distance
Minimize group size
Wash hands frequently
Stay home when sick and get tested