Gov. Polis, CDPHE Director Hunsaker Ryan Urge CDC to Provide Funding to Help Quickly Administer Vaccines in Hard to Reach Communities

DENVER - Governor Jared Polis and Jill Hunsaker Ryan Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) sent a letter to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield urging the CDC to allocate a portion of the funds designated in the CARES Act Unemployment Extension (H.R.113) for high risk and under-served populations to the state of Colorado. 

“Specifically, we are urging the CDC to expeditiously allocate $10 million to our state to ensure Colorado has the resources in place now, at the beginning of the state’s mass COVID-19 vaccination program, to quickly and adequately administer vaccines in these difficult to reach communities,” the letter reads. 

“Any delay in receiving additional resources and funding for the vaccination process would further exacerbate the health inequities that already exist in our state and communities. It is our understanding that funds for high risk and under-served populations are distributed to the states at your discretion. Our goal is to work for all Coloradans during this pandemic, and that includes serving our most vulnerable populations during this critical time,” Gov. Polis and Director Ryan wrote to the CDC director. 

“An allocation of $10 million to the state of Colorado will be quickly directed toward these communities to make an immediate impact towards our state’s critical goal to vaccinate all of those who call Colorado home,” the letter concludes.