Informed Choices - When We Don't Have All the Answers Yet

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We all want this pandemic to be over, and for life to get easier.

We're tired, and we want easy answers.

The reality is, it's complicated.

We're learning as fast as we can, and there's still a lot we don't know.

 

 Get up-to-date information to make your best decisions.

 

Click on the Highlighted Text in these sections for links to more info or resources.

(This page is updated frequently: current as of 15 February 2021) 

More and more COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available in the US

(currently Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson)

 

Vaccine is now at hospitals, nursing homes, health departments & some pharmacies.

 

BE PATIENT and CHECK BACK OFTEN:

Plans continue to update every few days as the situation evolves.

 

ELIGIBLE NOW: Age 65+, Healthcare, First Response & School Workers

Starting MARCH 5th: Age 60+, Farm/Grocery Workers, & Age 16-59 with 2+ Medical Risks

 

Retail pharmacies are vaccinating eligible Coloradans - see below.

 

Getting vaccinated - when a vaccine is SAFE and AVAILABLE for you -

will DECREASE your RISK of getting COVID-19.

 

Even after you’ve been vaccinated, you are still at some risk.

It is still important to WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS, and LIMIT EXPOSURE.

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Click here for the WHERE TO GET VACCINATED in Colorado,

try the FindYourVaccine app,

or call the Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline

at 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926)

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REGISTER TO GET A VACCINE APPOINTMENT:

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CVS Pharmacies (including Target) (pre-registration required to schedule)

King Soopers Pharmacies (pre-registration required to schedule)

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacies (pre-registration required to schedule)

Safeway Pharmacies (pre-registration required to schedule)

Sam's Club Pharmacies (pre-registration required to schedule)

Walgreens Pharmacies (pre-registration required to schedule)

WalMart Pharmacies (pre-registration required to schedule)

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Boulder: BCH Foothills Hospital or call 303-415-7777

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Lafayette: Good Samaritan Hospital (SCL Health) or call 303-812-2051

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Longmont: Long's Peak Hospital (UCHealth) or call 720-462-2255

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Longmont: Longmont United Hospital (Centura) or call 866-414-1562

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Louisville: Avista Adventist Hospital (Centura) or call 866-414-1562

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Kaiser Permanente or call 844-951-1932

 

WHAT WE KNOW and WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET:

 

It is still not known how long the vaccine will last, or how often it may need to be repeated.

 

It is still not known whether a vaccinated person can carry and transmit the virus without being sick.

 

The vaccines currently available are each a 2-dose series (Pfizer 3 weeks apart, or Moderna 4 weeks apart).

 

You should get the SAME version (Pfizer or Moderna) for BOTH your first and second shot.

 

If you do not get the vaccine when it is first available to you, it will remain an option as time goes on and we continue to learn more.

 

Rare but life-threatening ALLERGIC REACTIONS have happened with the COVID-19 vaccines (especially the one made by Pfizer) - if you have a history of previous severe allergic reaction, and choose to get vaccinated, you should receive your vaccine in a hospital or facility with full “crash cart” emergency services, and should remain waiting there for at least 30 minutes after the shot.

 

SIDE EFFECTS may include muscle aches, fever, fatigue, and headache, and can last 1-3 days. These temporary, unpleasant-but-not-dangerous reactions can be treated with Tylenol or Ibuprofen, and seem to be more common after the 2nd dose. 

  

It is not yet known how these vaccines affect people with major diseases of the immune system, including autoimmune diseases.

 

If you have previously tested positive for COVID-19 (whether you got sick or not), you can still get vaccinated. If you were severely ill (hospitalized or treated with IV medications), you should wait at least 90 days from when you first tested positive before getting the vaccine.

 

The vaccines currently available in the US are being distributed under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This is a fast-track process in response to a major public health crisis. There has not yet been enough time, information, or experience for these vaccines to receive full standard FDA approval. Expect information and recommendations to continue to evolve as we all learn more in the coming months and years.

 

Click Here to see the PHASES (Priority Categories), according to public health officials

 

Public Health risk categories take into account several considerations:

  • How likely a person is to become severely ill or die if infected

  • How likely a person is to expose many others who may become severely ill or die

  • If this person becomes ill, how much will it disrupt emergency health services and crucial functioning of society

 

Click here to sign up for Boulder County Health Department NOTIFICATIONS when your Phase is eligible to be vaccinated

 

Click here for QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT if you’re undecided about getting vaccinated

  

Learn more about each of the different COVID-19 Vaccines (from the CDC)

NYTimes: How the Pfizer vaccine works

NYTimes: How the Moderna vaccine works

NYTimes: How the Johnson & Johnson vaccine works 

NYTimes: How the AstraZeneca vaccine works (not yet available in the US)

NYTimes: How the Novavax vaccine works (not yet available anywhere)

 

 
 
 
 

Questions & Answers with the Plague Doctor

The Plague Doctor has traveled far across the realms and the ages to visit and answer your questions.

 

Click on each box below for a conversation.

 

Scroll farther down for more local resources, information and helpful links. 

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Do YOU have a question for the Plague Doctor? Let us know! 

LOCAL LINKS - click on the highlighted text to visit the link:

Address

2503 Walnut St #200
Boulder CO 80302
USA

Contact

CALL 303-557-2250

FAX 303-325-7688

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