Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update Jan 5th, 2021

Description: Otero/Crowley County Health Department Covid Update Jan 5th, 2021.

Published: 01/05/2021

Byline: Hart

THIS IS A RAPIDLY EVOLVING AND FLUID SITUATION. INFORMATION AND ACTION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND PATIENT.

The situations, numbers, website links, data, and etc. described below were current as of Tuesday 1/5/2021 at 12:02 pm.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY

1/5/2021 Crowley/Otero COVID-19 Update #1: 1/6/2021 Drive-Through Vaccination Clinic Update

It is absolutely essential that you take the time to read and understand this entire message.

Internet links: Before I send out each update, I check the links to make sure they are active. However, links do change from time to time, so the links I sent out today may not be the same tomorrow. You may have to search around a bit.

Hello to all. On Wednesday, 1/6/2021 OCHD will hold a COVID-19 mass vaccination drive-through clinic, the details of which are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 1/6/2021
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm. The clinic will not open early.
Location: Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds, Rocky Ford

Ø Rocky Ford has been chosen as it is the most centrally located city between the cities in Crowley and Otero Counties.

Ø Thanks Rocky Ford for providing this centrally located, large venue!

Eligible vaccinees: Crowley and Otero residents aged 70 and above

Ø For the purposes of this clinic, the word “vaccinee” simply refers to a person that will be or has been vaccinated.

Ø In order to be eligible for this clinic, you MUST meet BOTH of the following criteria:

· You were born on or before January 6th, 1951, no exceptions.

· You are a resident of Crowley or Otero County, no exceptions.

Ø Please bring a valid, government issued photo I.D., such as your driver’s license or a Colorado identification card to verify your age and county of residence. Also, we will consider documents including, but not necessarily limited to, utility bills, paystubs, vehicle registration for residence and birth certificates for age.

Ø Those that cannot provide proof of their birth date and county of residence, or their I.D. indicates they were born after January 6th, 1951 and/or do not reside in Crowley/Otero Counties, will not receive a vaccination at this clinic.

Ø Why the restrictions regarding age and county of residence?:

· Currently we are dealing with an extremely limited amount of vaccine, and we must ensure what little vaccine we do have is administered to Crowley and Otero residents in line with Colorado’s vaccination phase guidance. Other Colorado counties have received limited amounts of vaccine for their populations.

· Age restriction: On Wednesday, 12/30/2020 CDPHE updated vaccination Phase 1B to include, among others, individuals aged 70 and above. On Thursday, 12/31/2020 a release from the Governor’s office stated “This update means that Phase 1B also now covers Coloradans 70 and older, who represent 78% of all COVID deaths in our state. Coloradans age 70 and older will have the opportunity to begin getting vaccinated in the next few days and it’s expected to take 4-5 weeks until everyone over 70 who wants to be protected from the deadly virus has received their first vaccination.” The state of Colorado is currently vaccinating Phase 1A & 1B (COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates). OCHD has been, and will continue to, visit worksites for vaccine administration to appropriate employees in Phases 1A & 1B. In order to accommodate the aforementioned 70+ age group, OCHD is holding this clinic. To find what phase you belong to, visit this link and scroll down a bit: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

· County restriction: Colorado counties are being sent their own very limited vaccine dose amounts based upon their populations. Currently OCHD just has an extremely limited amount of vaccine that was sent to us based upon the combined population of Crowley and Otero counties. Because of this very limited amount, OCHD will be requiring proof of county of residence. In the past, such as during our H1N1 vaccination clinics, we had much more vaccine and we did not impose this residence restriction. Hopefully vaccine supply will increase in the near future to where this restriction could be lifted.

Ø PLEASE, FOR THE SAKE OF OUR 70+ AGED RESIDENTS OF CROWLEY AND OTERO COUNTIES, AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR COLORADO’S VACCINATION PHASE GUIDANCE, IF YOU DO NOT MEET BOTH OF THE ELIGIBILTY REQUIREMENTS DO NOT REQUEST A VACCINATION AT THIS CLINIC. AS VACCINE CONTINUES TO BECOME AVAILABLE, THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VACCINATIONS AT WORKSITES AND PUBLIC CLINICS.

Vaccine: Only COVID-19 vaccine will be available at this clinic, no other types of vaccine will be available. This will be the Moderna vaccine. As of the time of this writing, we anticipate that we will only have approximately 150 doses available for this clinic. This clinic is strictly “first come, first served”, no exceptions. We will inform participants that may be waiting in line when our vaccine supply has been completely allocated and none remains. This will negate any further, unnecessary waiting in line.

Ø Want to learn more about the Moderna vaccine, go here and look for the heading “Vaccine Front Runners”: COVID-19 vaccine | Colorado COVID-19 Updates

Ø Want to learn about Moderna’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), please go here: bit.ly/OCHDCOVID

Offensive behavior: OCHD has already received threatening calls about the COVID-19 vaccine. Please be aware that verbally confrontational/abusive/foul language and other rude, threatening, belligerent behavior toward OCHD staff and volunteers will not be tolerated. The highest standards of respect, kindness, patience, self-control, calm, understanding, etc. will be expected and required of all.
Clinic security: Members of the Rocky Ford Police Department and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office will provide security. A big shout out and thanks to them for providing this very essential, important service!
Clinic directions: Here are the directions for the clinic. I have attached a map to this email that corresponds with the directions below. Also, on the map the red arrows show the directional flow of the clinic. (Use look landscape view on mobile)

ü Entrance: Clinic participants, driving north on 8th Street, will enter the clinic at the 8th Street entrance. Cars traveling south on 8th street will not be allowed in the entrance, you must be facing north.

§ At the Entrance participants will be screened for age and county of residency, and will be given a clipboard for each person in the car that will be vaccinated.

ü Station #1: Once in the Entrance, cars will proceed east until they arrive at the Forms Completion Station (Station #1).

§ Participants will then put their cars in park and complete the forms.

§ Once the forms are completed, cars will flash their lights and attendants will check the forms for completeness and contraindications to vaccination..

ü Station #2: Attendants will then direct cars to the Vaccination Queue Station, Station #2.

§ Cars will continue to proceed east toward the vaccination stations.

ü Station #3: Cars will pull up to a Vaccination Station, Station #3

§ Nurses will take clipboards, do final review of the forms for completeness and contraindications, and give vaccinations.

ü Station #4: After vaccinations, participants will be strongly encouraged to pull into the Monitor Station (Station #4), and wait at least 20 minutes to monitor for signs of an adverse reaction. Look for and follow the direction of traffic attendants.

§ If an adverse reaction occurs while waiting at this station, honk the car horn and flash car headlights and ambulance personnel/attendants will go to the vehicle.

§ The ambulance will be staged in this area.

· A big shout out and thanks to Rocky Ford Fire/EMS for providing this very essential, important service!

ü Exit: After the wait at the Monitor Station (Station #4), proceed to the Clinic Exit and exit right (not left) onto Ash Avenue.

ü Check out the map on Google Maps: Google Maps

ü General safety guidelines

§ For the sake of OCHD staff and volunteers please abide by the following:

· When your car is stopped at any time, place it in park.

· DRIVERS OF CARS, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AND COMPLETE A FORM. PASSENGERS MAY DO THIS, BUT NOT DRIVERS. DRIVERS MUST HAVE THEIR CARS IN PARK WHEN COMPLETING THEIR FORM. ANY UNSAFE DRIVING WILL BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

· Look for and follow the directions of traffic attendants. OCHD staff and volunteers will be wearing vests for visibility and recognition.

· Drive very slowly and cautiously, this is a complicated, complex operation with many OCHD staff and volunteers moving in close proximity to cars.

· Do not get out of your cars.

COVID-19 vaccination card: At this clinic you will be issued a COVID-19 vaccination card. Please keep this in a safe and secure place, because you will need to bring it with you for the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose clinic in 4 weeks. More information on this booster dose clinic will be forthcoming.
Ongoing vaccination clinics: This will be the first of other COVID-19 vaccination drive-through clinics to follow.
No pets: Please be sure that you do not bring any pets in your car.
Wait times: Anticipate potentially long wait times. Please ensure that your vehicle has adequate fuel.
Stay in your car: When you pull up to the vaccination station, you will roll down your window and receive your shot while remaining in the car. Please ensure that you have an accessible arm next to a car window that rolls down. Please do not exit your car.
Media: If you would like to visit the clinic for a story, please report to the Fairground’s entrance off of 9th Street and identify yourself as a member of the media to the attendant. Please be prepared to show your work I.D. to the attendant. You will then be escorted to the Incident Command Post.
A HUGE thanks to OCHD staff and volunteers for arranging this in a short period of time!