Last weekend, El Paso County Public Health launched its mobile outreach van to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines at convenient locations across the county.
The van made its first stop at Vista Ridge High School on Friday, Sept. 17, to offer COVID-19 vaccines to students, staff and families, and its second stop at Bear Creek Park on Saturday, Sept. 18.
The mobile outreach van administered nearly 60 vaccines to eligible individuals during the two events, in addition to providing education and answering questions.
The van’s staff will administer COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, routine back-to-school immunizations and more at businesses, worksites, schools, community events and places of worship. To request the van for a clinic, email healthinfo@elpasoco.com.
On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Gov. Jared Polis announced a new tool in the state’s COVID-19 testing program. The Rapid-At-Home tests can be sent directly to Coloradans for use without a medical professional to witness test administration.
The state has purchased 2 million Binax rapid tests. People can sign up to have tests delivered to their homes at covid19.colorado.gov/covid-19-testing-at-home.
The tests yield results within 15 minutes.
Polis also provided an overview of how Colorado will quickly give booster shots to eligible people.
Colorado is ready to administer boosters to nursing home residents starting this week. The state has the infrastructure in place to immediately start administering boosters once the Food and Drug Administration clears it for additional age groups.
Chapel Hills Mall, 1710 Briargate Blvd., will host one of the state’s community vaccination sites. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. every day. Appointments are not required, but residents can register at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccinefinder.
LOCAL RATES
COVID-19 is being blamed in 987 deaths in El Paso County from March 1, 2020, to Sept. 22. Six people have died here since Sept. 15. The 80829 ZIP code has experienced 439 cases since March 1, 2020, as of Sept. 21. That’s an increase of five cases over the past week.