SM County: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics: What to Expect!

06 Apr SM County: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics: What to Expect!

San Miguel County Public Health vaccine clinics occurring weekly for those pre-registered.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment expanded vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 years of age and older on Friday, April 2. With adequate supply to proceed with this phase of vaccination, San Miguel County Public Health encourages all residents interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine to pre-register on the county COVID website: bit.ly/smcvaccine.

After pre-registering, Public Health will reach out via phone or email to schedule a vaccine appointment. Vaccine clinics are scheduled on a weekly basis throughout the county with ample appointment availability.

Upon arrival at the vaccine clinic, patients will check-in with the registration team, receive informational paperwork and their Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card and, if necessary, schedule a follow up appointment for their second dose. The vaccine dose will then be administered in a private room by a medical professional.

After receiving the vaccine dose, recipients enter a physically distanced waiting area for 15 to 30 minutes of observation in the case of an allergic reaction. Medical professionals are on-site throughout the process to care for patients and answer questions. In all, from arrival to departure, the vaccination process takes 20 to 35 minutes.

“We have been preparing for the general public to be eligible since December and have created a system that is both efficient and effective,” said Public Health Director Grace Franklin. “This is our biggest tool in ending the pandemic. By reducing the likelihood of infection and severe outcomes amongst our vulnerable populations along with reducing the risk of outbreaks, we protect our businesses, schools and our communities for the foreseeable future.”

The Uncompahgre Medical Center is also administering COVID-19 vaccines at this time, reach out directly if interested in receiving the vaccine through UMC. Residents 16 or 17 years of age are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine and can find vaccines outside of San Miguel County at regional retail pharmacies through vaccinefinder.org as it is not currently offered by distribution centers in the county.

According to the CDC, people that have reached full protection through vaccination do not have to quarantine or get tested if exposed to a known positive unless they have symptoms. Additionally, fully vaccinated people can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart. When traveling within the United States, fully vaccinated people do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.

Public Health will be hosting two events next week offering an opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about the various vaccines, their safety and efficacy.

On Monday, April 12, Public Health will host an in-person panel discussion at Norwood Fairgrounds’ Pig Palace at 6:15 pm. Panelists include Public Health Director Grace Franklin; County Commissioner Kris Holstrom; Town of Norwood Trustee Jamie Schultz; UMC Physician Assistant Robin Richards; and Norwood residents Mark Vandenburg, Ted Mueller and Charlie Bausch.

Additionally, Public Health will host the regular monthly COVID Community Forum on Tuesday, April 13 at 6 pm to discuss the vaccines, distribution and the COVID state of the county followed by time for questions. Public Health Director Grace Franklin and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Grundy will host the forum which will be held on Zoom in meeting room 875 7561 1213 with passcode 819 022.

Public Health has confirmed three new positive cases of COVID-19 from test results received from April 2 through April 5. Of these cases, three are confirmed as residents and all actively contagious cases are currently in isolation.

As of release time today, there have been 851 total COVID cases among residents to date with 4 active cases.

To learn more about the county’s current COVID-19 metrics, please visit the County COVID-19 dashboard.

• 52-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, community
• 41-year-old female, resident, symptomatic, community
• 28-year-old male, resident, symptomatic, community

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