Governor Celebrates Launch of First State Community Vaccination Sites in El Paso and Mesa Counties

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Individuals can register now for vaccine appointments

DENVER - Today, as part of Governor Polis’ Vaccines for All efforts, the Governor launched the very first State Community Vaccination Site at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, and celebrated the launch of another community vaccination site at the Grand Junction Convention Center in Mesa County. These sites are being run in partnership with Centura Health and Mesa County Public Health, respectively. The Governor was joined by Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanerWerf, and Dr. Ozzie Grenardo from Centura Health, as he greeted Coloradans at the drive-through clinic, waiting to receive their vaccine. 

“Today is an important next step in our vaccine distribution efforts, and I’m thrilled that Colorado is leading the way. As our vaccine supply increases, these sites will play a vital role in rapidly getting shots into arms,” said Governor Jared Polis. “I never get tired of seeing the smiling faces of folks who are about to get their vaccine, and these community vaccination sites will help make this a reality for more Coloradans, more quickly. We’re all eager for life to get back to normal, and the vaccine is our path forward.”

In addition to the sites at the Broadmoor World Arena and the Grand Junction Convention Center, there will be four other sites opening up in the coming days in Adams, Pueblo, Larimer and Denver Counties. 

The Broadmoor World Arena is operating a drive-through clinic starting with 2,000 vaccines per day, and will be able to conduct 6,000 vaccinations per day once there is enough vaccine supply. The drive-through clinic will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Individuals who are eligible to receive the vaccine can register for an appointment here or by calling 720-263-5737. 

“By opening mass vaccine clinics, we ensure every Coloradan, regardless of race, color or ability to pay, has access to this life-saving medicine,” said Dr. Ozzie Grenardo, vice president of diversity and inclusion, Centura Health. “We believe this vaccine truly symbolizes hope as we move toward the end of the pandemic.”

In Grand Junction, the site is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Coloradans eligible to receive the vaccine can sign up here in English, or here in Spanish. All vaccines are free with no co-pay. Starting Friday, March 19, all Coloradans age 50 and older are eligible.

“Mesa County Public Health has been operating a community vaccination site since early January, and we are thrilled to partner with the State on this important expansion. This allows us to more effectively and efficiently serve residents in Mesa and surrounding counties. Mesa County already serves as a regional medical hub for counties across Western Colorado, and this expansion will ensure residents in our part of the state have access to COVID-19 vaccine as the supply grows. Expanding our distribution site is the logical next step on our path forward together, to restore what we love about Western Colorado,” said Jeff Kuhr, PhD, Executive Director, Mesa County Public Health.

The Polis-Primavera administration is partnering with providers and local communities to stand up community vaccination sites to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine is administered equitably and efficiently as vaccine eligibility expands. The six Vaccines for All community vaccination sites are expected to administer a maximum of 6,000 doses per day at each site at six days per week for a total of 36,000 doses administered each week through the program. This depends on vaccine supply provided to the state. The large vaccination sites do not replace the 900 vaccine provider efforts or the efforts of the Equity Outreach Team.

In addition to visiting the vaccination clinics, the Governor also stopped by Kinship Landing, a hotel and event space, as well as El Taco Y La Arepa, a family-owned restaurant. The Governor spoke with the owners of these establishments to learn more about their businesses and discuss how they are recovering from the pandemic. Last week, the Governor and bipartisan leaders from the Colorado General Assembly announced The Colorado Recovery Plan, which will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. Five big goals will guide dozens of bills narrowly tailored to meet the challenge at hand, including strengthening small businesses, revitalizing infrastructure, supporting Colorado families, investing in rural Colorado, and developing the workforce.