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Colorado Polis pushes to require vaccines for health care workers as 3 departments mandate themState workers who interact with vulnerable or congregate populations at the Colorado Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Public Health and Environment will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by later this fall.
Additionally, Gov. Jared Polis is pushing the State Board of Health to require vaccines for health care workers working with vulnerable populations, the medically vulnerable and in settings where people receive essential care.
Staffers within the Department of Corrections (CDOC) and Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will have to get their first vaccine dose by Sept. 30 and be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31, the state said. The Department of Human Services (CDHS) will stagger their requirements between Oct. 31 and Nov. 26.
Within DOC facilities, all employees who interact with the public, inmates or parolees, or who enter CDOC facilities, will have to get vaccinated. Additionally, other state employees, contractors, visitors, volunteers and vendors will have to be vaccinated to enter a state prison.
The state said 58.7% of CDOC staff are currently vaccinated. Sixty-four percent of inmates are fully vaccinated and another 8% of inmates have received their first dose. CDOC and CDHS employees have been able to get the vaccine since January.
All CDHS direct care and support staff will also have to get the vaccine, and contractors will have to provide proof of vaccination, the department said. Currently, 77% of CDHS direct care staff is vaccinated, as well as 73% of residents and clients, according to the state.
The new requirements were announced just as Gov. Polis sent a letter to the State Board of Health asking it to quickly make emergency rules “to require all personnel working in facilities with our vulnerable populations in Colorado to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” as he wrote in the letter.
“These rules should apply to anyone directly involved in health care and support staff who regularly come into contact and share spaces with vulnerable populations including patients seeking medical care in essential medical settings and in congregate senior living facilities,” the letter went on to say. “Anyone subject to the rules should receive a first shot no later than September 30, 2021.”
Several Colorado health care groups, including Children’s Hospital Colorado, SCL Health, Boulder Community Health, UCHealth, Denver Health, National Jewish Health and Banner Health, are already requiring all of their employees to get vaccinated by later this fall. Nineteen Colorado health care organizations also issued a statement last week calling for all health care employees in the state to be vaccinated.
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/coronavirus/polis-pushes-to-require-vaccines-for-health-care-workers-as-3-departments-mandate-them
this is taking place today via zoom at 3pm Denver time
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/board-health-meetings?fbclid=IwAR2hktSqFGR5qbBCCVlajEaY3ksKeSBGWYBQrvF1XP19GGaWjjvH-EtTcJU