Governor Polis Statement on President Biden’s Address
DENVER - Colorado continues to lead the way when it comes to administering the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Jared Polis commended President Joe Biden following the President’s remarks today about the COVID-19 pandemic and the state provided insight into recent actions taken by the Polis administration to administer the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine and address the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, 3,440,614 Coloradans have received at least one dose which accounts for 69.5% of the eligible population (ages 12 and up). 71.68% of Colorado adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Colorado was one of twenty states -- and one of the few in the West -- to meet President Biden’s aspirational goal of vaccinating 70% of Americans aged 18 and up by July 4th and did so ahead of schedule.
“Today, President Biden recognized how Colorado continues to lead the nation when it comes to administering the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. But we still have a long way to go to make Colorado safe. We have partnered with the business community to get the vaccine into arm after arm and to ensure every Coloradan can get vaccinated so they can protect themselves and our economy,” said Governor Polis. “Colorado has been administering the vaccine for over eight months and it has proven to be a safe and effective defense against this destructive virus. This is now becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated and we have the tool to end it. Now more than ever it could not be more clear that you are either on the side of spreading this virus or you are on the side of helping the state get back to the Colorado we know and love.”
“More and more Colorado businesses are stepping up to help their team members get vaccinated and that’s great for our economy and the wellbeing of Colorado's world-class workforce,” Governor Polis continued. “In order to ensure Colorado remains the best place in the country to live, work and run a business, more Coloradans sitting on the sidelines need to help end this pandemic by getting vaccinated.”
Today, President Biden commended the Polis administration for its innovative efforts to get more people vaccinated through the Polis administration’s Comeback Cash program. Eight days ago, Governor Polis announced a new incentive program to help increase vaccinations in the form of gift cards. In the first seven days, Colorado distributed 45% of available gift cards, with 40.7% of gift cards distributed in counties outside of the Denver Metro area. Vaccine clinics that offered gift cards saw, on average, a 25 person per day increase (~39%) in the gift card period compared to the rest of July. The Polis administration has been focused on equitably administering the vaccine which is why the gift card incentive was made available at over 60 vaccine clinic locations in over 21 counties across Colorado. Participating vaccine clinic locations were chosen based on three criteria: equity census tract data, county-level vaccine uptake rates, and geographic equity.
Moreover, under the Polis administration’s gift card incentive, over half of the Coloradans stepping up to get the safe and effective vaccine identify as Hispanic/Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, or two or more races. The majority of patients (around 80%) are ages 12-49. In total, the State sent 14,939 text messages in both English and Spanish to areas within a particular mile radius of the clinic site determined by population density.
Colorado’s 24/7 facilities have been implementing best practices outlined by the President for months. Vaccines are widely encouraged, incentivized, and provided on-site. In most facilities, staff are required to wear medical-grade masks, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated staff are also required to submit regular negative test results in order to enter the facility as part of surveillance testing guidance. Additional testing is also happening for all staff, regardless of vaccination status, when there is a known exposure. Colorado has also been a national leader when it comes to vaccinating our residents in State custody, including among the top vaccination rates for prison residents in the country.
This is largely becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated with the virus and variants spreading in areas with low vaccination rates even though there is ample supply and access to the safe and effective vaccine. 30.5% of Colorado’s eligible population is unvaccinated.
Colorado businesses are stepping up to ensure workers in our state are vaccinated. United Airlines, Google, UC Health, Banner Health, UC Health, Denver Health, Adobe, Twitter, Shake Shack, and Facebook, and the majority of higher education institutions are Colorado employers who share the goal of protecting customers and workers.
Throughout the pandemic, the Polis administration has supported and empowered local communities and public health agencies to have stricter protocols in place.
Find out where to get vaccinated by visiting https://covid19.colorado.gov/