DENVER -- The door opened this week for teachers, child care providers and people 65 to 69 years old to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
Ralph Edwards was vaccinated as part of the 70 or older group. His wife, who is also over 70 and should be getting her vaccine, hasn’t been able to get an appointment.
Now, Edwards is scared she will have to wait even longer for her shot.
"You shouldn’t be scheduling anybody 65 and up until all the 70s who want the vaccine are scheduled. I think it’s likely that she would be left behind and there would be people that would step ahead of her, and no one would ever really know it," said Edwards.
But Governor Polis says that’s not the case. The state’s goal is still to get to everyone 70 or older vaccinated alongside the other groups.
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"We know that there are still people 70 and up wanting to be vaccinated, in fact, very likely many of those doses over the next few weeks will be helping to finish off everyone who wants it over age 70. But of course, people over the age of 70 will be able to get it," said Polis.
The big question for those in the 70 or older group is when?
"Tell me that there is going to be some sort of priority system, where the longer you don’t get in you get some weight into your name so that it will eventually come to the top, and you’ll get chosen. I have no idea when I’m going to get the shot at this point, but it seems like it’s getting more and more complicated," said Criag Baun, who hasn't gotten a vaccine in the 70 or older group either.
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And it’s not only the 70 or older group.
Many first responders haven’t gotten their vaccine either.
In a statement the state health department says, “Vaccinating phase 1a and phase 1b.1 should take priority. Generally, we depend on the honor system for people and providers to implement the prioritization in the spirit it was created. The state’s goal is to vaccinate 70% of 70-year-old's by February 28.”
The governor says if you are 70 and up, as long as you are signed up somewhere to get the vaccine, you will receive it in the next few weeks.
