To all Support, Inc. Staff, Providers and Families:
Over the last 4 months, we’ve been talking a lot about the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are still looking for an appointment or have questions before making the decision to get the vaccine, please reach out to us, we are here to help. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) created the attached guide illustrating how safe activities are if you have or have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
As more Coloradoan’s
are getting the vaccine and COVID-19 transmission across the state decreases
counties are now able to determine their own level of ‘openness’.
Additionally, Colorado has lifted the state wide mask mandate in many settings.
We have received updated guidance from HCPF (Health Care Policy and Financing)
regarding our service delivery. As we receive new guidance, we continually
review our COVID-19 operating protocol to ensure it still aligns with Federal,
State, licensing and County guidance. We have updated our COVID-19 Operating
Protocol for all employees and contractors. This protocol outlines how we will
be operating our offices, day services, and in-person visits. Please take a
moment to look over these changes. Please keep in mind that our protocols will
be different than what is being communicated to the general public due to
restrictions by our licensing agencies and the characteristics of the
population that we serve.
In many cases, it’s
been a full year of relying on virtual technology for home visits and other
in-person services. We are excited to start getting back to in-person visits
including in-person monitoring and expanded in-person day program services.
Over the next month, your Residential Program Coordinator will be reaching out
to schedule a monitoring visit in your home. We’ve created a ‘what to expect
during in-person visits’ document which is also attached to this email.
Also, if you and your individual in services is interested in participating
more with in-person day program or other services, please discuss this with
your Residential Program Coordinator or a member of the Day Services team.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out
to myself, your supervisor or your Residential Program Coordinator.
Thank you, Laura Viers Associate Director of Quality Assurance Laura.Viers@supportinc.com
Support, Inc. recently hosted it’s second vaccination
clinic, and we’re proud to report on this successful accomplishment! We
vaccinated 156 people for their second dose, and about 5 individuals received
their first dose of the Moderna vaccine. From the set-up to the tear down,
we’re so happy to share some details from the clinic. Everything ran smoothly
and went off without a hitch.
First, we started by partnering with CDPHE. We worked together
with medical staff on-site including RNs from the state and our very own
Registered Nurse, Morgan Struck. Morgan and Laura (Associate Director of
Quality Assurance) ensured we had the staff we needed to vaccinate as many
people as possible, rapidly and safely. Our first clinic held on March 17th
went well with no major hiccups. Thanks to this planning and preparation a
month ago, we were well-equipped to lead our second clinic with the guidance of
CDPHE staff.
It was a group effort to put on this vaccination clinic-before
the first and second vaccination clinics, we held volunteer meetings to go over
each person’s individual role in the process. We clarified questions and made
sure everyone knew what they were doing. By the time the clinics rolled around,
we felt well prepared and confident in leading the people we serve through the
process we developed.
In addition, our Day Services staff closed the program the
day before to prepare for everyone joining us the following day. Our DSPs and
Day Program Supervisors were instrumental in hosting the clinic, alongside
CDPHE staff. We thank everyone that volunteered their time to make this work.
We mapped out our site to have a nice flow for the clinic. We also had a wait
area for people to be monitored 15 minutes after their vaccination.
Our established COVID-19 Pandemic Committee thought about
this vaccination process for the people we serve from multiple angles. We developed
several accommodations for PRS, to make this as easy as possible for them. If
someone would rather be vaccinated outside, we offered drive-up services for
these individuals. We offered snack and water and juice to anyone that needed
it. Support, Inc. also offered fidget spinners and other hand-held “gadgets”,
if you will, to help keep folks entertained while they waited 15 minutes during
their observation period.
So why did we host this clinic? We wanted the people we serve to have easy access to the vaccine. We also considered the needs of PRS and their families and providers to have a familiar setting in which to become vaccinated. Furthermore, we wanted our staff to have a place to come to, in case they needed the vaccine, as well. Ultimately, we endorse the vaccine and continue to encourage the people we serve and our entire network to get vaccinated soon!
Check out our photos from the vaccine clinic! And for further questions on the planning and the process, please email Cathy at Cathy.Kellogg@supportinc.com
In this communication we will cover the following:
Colorado COVID-19 vaccine update and where to get a COVID-19 vaccine
Support, Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic
Looking ahead
Colorado Vaccine Update
Beginning today, Friday April 2nd, 2021 Phase 2 of Colorado’s distribution plan opens. In this Phase, anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Colorado expects anyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get the vaccine within the next 2 months, this may change however based on vaccine supply and the increased demand.
There
are many options to schedule a vaccine appointment across the state. Click on
any of the locations listed below to be directed to the sites appointment
registration system.
Vaccine Spotter is a
tool to help you find COVID-19 vaccine appointment openings at Colorado
Pharmacies. The website is updated every minute.
We
are here to help you access the vaccine! Please reach out to your supervisor or
Residential Program Coordinator for assistance finding a vaccine appointment.
2. Support, Inc.’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
On Wednesday March 17th we hosted a first dose COVID-19 vaccine clinic at our Aurora office. With the support of CDPHE’s (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) Vaccine Support Team we were able to administer 165 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine to our individual’s receiving services, employee and contractors.
Hosting
this clinic was important to our organization. This is a big step in supporting
all our employees, contractors and individuals receiving services to get access
to this critical vaccine. Navigating community-based vaccine clinics can be
frustrating and time consuming. Hosting this clinic allowed us a simple avenue
for our constituents to access the vaccine. People with intellectual and
developmental disabilities have often been overlooked in both National and
State pandemic response. This population also faces challenges in accessing
quality medical care in the community. By hosting this clinic, we were able to
offer our constituents access to the COVID-19 vaccine at a familiar location,
with support staff around they recognize and know by name and most of all we
were able to administer the vaccine in a flexible and safe environment that
allowed us to support each person and family’s unique needs.
If
you attended the clinic, your Residential Program Coordinator or Supervisor
will assist you to schedule your second dose appointment.
3. Looking Ahead
We continue to work under our current COVID-19 operating protocol including limiting in-person visits to homes, limited office use by appointment only and limited on-site day services. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should continue to follow all infection control practices including social distancing, washing your hands frequently and wearing a mask when in public or having contact with people who don’t live with you.
There
continues to be on-going research into the COVID-19 vaccine. We know the
vaccine is highly effective at protecting the recipient from getting COVID-19
and will also protect you from getting seriously ill if you do contract the
virus. We do not know yet how well the vaccine prevents you from spreading the
virus to others. We are also still learning how effective the vaccines are
against new variants that cause COVID-19.
As
vaccination rates increase, research data is released, and we get additional
guidance from the CDC (Center’s for Disease Control) and CDPHE’s (Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment) we will update our operating protocol and
communicate any changes to you.
Be sure to never
miss our correspondences, follow us on Facebook, be sure you are on email and newsletter
distribution lists and check out website for on-going updates about COVID-19 and other happenings around
the organization.
Support, Inc. is preparing to host it’s first vaccination clinic on March 17th from 10:00a.m.-4:00 p.m. The clinic is hosted in partnership with CDPHE and is offered to clients, staff, providers, and family caregivers who meet the criteria based on the phase we are in. For more information, please see the flyer below, or contact your RPC or supervisor to get signed up as quickly as possible.
The following information has been produced by our Associate Director of Quality Assurance, Laura Viers, on March 4th, 2021. For additional questions and information, please email Laura at Laura.Viers@supportinc.com
To all Support, Inc. Staff, Providers and Families:
In this communication we will cover the following:
National COVID-19 vaccine update.
Comparison of the three COVID-19 vaccines
Colorado’s updated COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and what this means for persons receiving services.
1. National updates:
On Saturday February 27th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization to Johnson & Johnson to use their Janssen Bio tec. COVID-19 vaccine. Comparison of the three COVID-19 vaccines:
2. Comparison of the three COVID-19 vaccines:
When getting your vaccine, you will likely not have a choice in which vaccine you get. Manufacturer availability depends on the vaccine each clinic gets on a weekly basis. For vaccine’s requiring a second dose, you must get the same brand for your first and second dose. There are now 3 COVID-19 vaccine’s below is a comparison of the three vaccines.
Side effects: Pain at the injection site Injection site redness Injection site swelling Tiredness Headache Muscle pain Fever Chills Joint pain Swollen lymph nodes
Side effects: Pain at the injection site Injection site redness Injection site swelling Tiredness Headache Muscle aches Fever Nausea
Side effects: Pain at the injection site Injection site redness Injection site swelling Fatigue Headache Muscle pain Fever Chills Joint pain Swollen lymph nodes Nausea Vomiting
Who
can get the Pfizer vaccine?
The FDA
granted emergency use authorization for individuals 16 years and older
Who
can get the Janssen vaccine?
The FDA
granted emergency use authorization for individuals 18 years and older
Who
can get the Moderna vaccine?
The FDA
granted emergency use authorization for individuals 18 years and older
Administration
of the Pfizer vaccine:
The
Pfizer vaccine vaccination series if 2 doses given 21 days apart.
* You
must get both doses of the vaccine *
Administration
of the Janssen vaccine:
The Janssen
vaccine is given as a single dose.
Administration
of the Moderna vaccine:
The
Moderna vaccine vaccination series is 2 doses given 28 days apart.
* You
must get both doses of the vaccine *
Storage
of the vaccine:
The
Pfizer vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures of -76° F and -112° F
Storage
of the vaccine:
The Janssen
vaccine must be stored between 36° F and 46° F.
Storage
of the vaccine:
The
Moderna vaccine may be stored in a fridge or freezer. The vaccine may be
stored in a freezer between -5°F and -13°F or under refrigeration at 46°F to 36°F for up to 30 days.
How
effective is the Pfizer vaccine?
During
the clinical study, Pfizer’s vaccine was found to be 95% effective at
preventing COVID-19 disease.
How
effective is the Janssen vaccine?
During
the clinical study, Janssen’s vaccine was found to be 77% effective at
preventing severe/critical COVID-19 disease at least 14 days after
vaccination and was 85% effective at preventing severe/critical COVID-19 at
least 28 days after vaccination.
How
effective is the Moderna vaccine?
During
the clinical study, Moderna’s vaccine was found to be 94.1% effective at
preventing COVID-19 disease
3. Colorado’s updated COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and what this means for persons receiving services:
In the coming weeks, Phase 1B.3 and Phase 1B.4 of Colorado’s distribution plan will open. Phase 1B.3 will open additional eligibility for some individual’s in services. Phase 1B.4 will open eligibility for all individual’s receiving services through Support, Inc.
Eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now
Coloradoan’s age 65 or older
Eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine FridayMarch 5th
Coloradoan’s age 60 or older Coloradoan’s age 16 and older with 2 or more of the following high-risk conditions: Down Syndrome COPD Diabetic mellitus (type 1 and type 2) Individuals with disabilities who require direct care in their home. People with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a mask Cancer (those currently receiving treatment or have received treatment in the last month) Chronic kidney disease Specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease, severe valvular/congenital heart disease) Obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 30kg/m^2) Pregnancy Sickle cell disease Solid organ transplant
Eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Around
March 21st (official date TBD)
Coloradoan’s age 50 and older Coloradoan’s age 16 and older with 1 of the following high-risk conditions: Down Syndrome COPD Diabetic mellitus (type 1 and type 2) Individuals with disabilities who require direct care in their home. People with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a mask Cancer (those currently receiving treatment or have received treatment in the last month) Chronic kidney disease Specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease, severe valvular/congenital heart disease) Obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 30kg/m^2) Pregnancy Sickle cell disease Solid organ transplant
Do you follow us on Facebook? We are running a social media campaign to
#SupportTheShot and have joined Alliance Colorado’s (our trade association)
campaign to #RollUpYourSleve and help Colorado conquer COVID. If you would like
to be featured on our social media page email cathy.kellogg@supportinc.com with a picture and why getting the COVID-19
vaccine is important to you.
Be sure to never miss our correspondences, follow us on Facebook, be sure you are
on email and newsletter distribution lists and check out website for on-going updates about
COVID-19 and other happenings around the organization.
Support, Inc. is offering insight into the vaccination process as documented by our Director of People Operations. Read below to learn more about the vaccination process from Nick’s perspective as he received his first dose in the Denver Metro Area.
Hello All,
I am Nicholas Manning, the Director of People Operations at
Support, Inc. I currently oversee our Human Resources Department, and have been
with Support, Inc. since May of 2015. If you know me, you most likely have met
me in my former role as an Associate Director in the Denver/Metro Area.
I would like to share my experience getting the COVID-19
vaccine with all of you. Now, you may or may not assume that this choice was
easy for me, it was not.
I am a person of color and identify as a member of the Black
community. I have always had concerns about vaccines due to generational trauma
and a general desire to not go to the doctor for anything other than a medical
emergency. From the infamous Tuskegee Experiment to the misrepresentation of
the voices of POC on medical boards, etc., feeling comfortable being on the
front line of receiving medical treatment is not something I feel terribly
comfortable with.
However, I found it important for me to receive this
vaccination , like no other time before.
Here is a bit about my journey.
The reasons:
Black, Hispanic, and Native American people are about 4
times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly 3 times more likely to die of
COVID-19 than white people. Yet African Americans have nearly the lowest rates
of vaccination among any ethnic group. In fact, white Americans are being
vaccinated at a rate 3 times higher than Black Americans. New CDC figures show
that of those who have received at least the first dose of a vaccine, 5.4% are
Black people, compared to 60% who are white people. According to recent Kaiser
Family Foundation poll, about 35% of Black Americans said they don’t plan to
get the vaccine, citing fears about safety and concerns that the vaccines.
As I have stated, these concerns are rooted in distrust
over time and I hope that my story can help provide insight on the vaccine from
someone you can connect with personally, not simply a stat on a website.
Additionally, I felt that being a person from my community who decided to
receive the vaccine, I could share my experiences with others in hopes of
supporting others regardless of whether or not they decided to also.
How:
First, I
utilized a link connecting me to Tri-County for an appointment. Now, this
process has been frustrating, and many of us can understand how and why. There
are a lot of people wanting it (about 80% of the adult population) and the
system itself has not caught up to the demand. However, after some time and
support I was able to access to an appointment. However, things came up, as
they do with most of us so I had to change it. I was scared, and hoped that I
would not lose the opportunity. I was successfully able to move my appointment
to Wednesday 17th, 2021.
I was sent an email with clear directions. I was instructed to sit in my car and await a phone call before entering the Tri-County East Aurora location.
I
received the call and was instructed to head inside. I was a bit nervous and
also excited. I am hopeful this will protect me, the people I care for both at
home and our Support, Inc. Community.
I headed in with my official leader from our CEO Bentley Smith, that is available to us.
I got to
the doors and moved through the secure building. People inside were respectful
as I checked in.
As I
awaited for my appointment, I filled out a single page document. Questions we
are used to as of now. Have I been exposed to COVID-19? Have I traveled outside
of the United States in the last 14 days? Etc. I gave the desk clerk my paper
and sat down. Within minutes I was asked to come back.
Alecia,
a data collector and registered nurse was my Shot Giver for the day. Alecia sat
me down and reviewed my form with me. She asked me about my experiences and
educated me on how my answers mattered. She also provided me the attached PDF.
She was transparent and discussed that the CDC wants to help us stay healthy as
well as gain important information from us individual to track the success of
the vaccine. She offered to answer any questions I had before she even prepared
the shot. She stated that she wanted to make sure I felt comfortable with the
information before moving forward. Alecia shared information about the trend of
data to how effective I can expect the vaccine to be. Though early signs
suggest the vaccine is effective, I was still encouraged to wear a mask
following my second dose to ensure the safety of our community. She informed me
that I was to remain in the waiting room for 15 minutes to ensure I do not have
an allergic reaction. She also explained I would most likely feel some ache in
my arm and the best way to ensure it was minimal was to use it and frequently.
She informed me that Tylenol and Ibuprofen were fine to use even though some
social media reports said otherwise.
She prepared my arm and I received the shot. It felt the same as most shots, no real pain outside of the assumed pinch. (I was not allowed to record the actual shot, I tried). I received my vaccine dose, thanked her for her time and headed to the waiting room. I waited 15 minutes and did not feel adverse effects so I stood up, got a drink from the vending machine and went home.
My arm
ached about 48 hours after with some slight swelling (thought it was my
muscles, but nope… just swelling). It has subsided in day 3. I have had no
illness reactions as of now. No fever, no cough, no headache.
My
experience may be unique. I also believe that many of us read so much on the
internet that may influence us to be more or less willing to move forward and
having a person who they can interact with share their experience may be more
meaningful. I also understand that my privilege of not have any health risks,
nor planning on being pregnant/breast feeding, is a benefit I have that many
who may read this do not.
Currently,
data does not show adverse risk to those who are pregnant or have moderate
health risks as the information is still very new, but also remains positive to
date.
If you have any personal or general questions about my experiences, please reach out to me directly at Nicholas.Manning@supportinc.com. I do not mind talking with you personally.
To all Support, Inc. Staff,
Providers and Families:
In this communication we will
cover the following:
National
COVID-19 vaccine update.
Local COVID-19 vaccine update including eligibility for
individuals in services.
Where to get the vaccine (employees, contractors, and
individuals in services).
What to expect when getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Reporting
your COVID-19 vaccine participation and how we store these records.
National
COVID-19 vaccine update:
COVID-19 vaccine administration continues
to increase across the United States where around 10% of American’s have
received at least one dose of the vaccine. About 9.7% of Coloradoan’s have
received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. While the demand for the
vaccine remains higher than the available supply, Colorado will begin receiving
an additional 9,000 vaccines weekly starting this week to help meet the demand.
Additional vaccine candidates continue to go through clinical trials to seek emergency use authorization (EUA) through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Janssen Biotech Inc. has filed for emergency use authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine, an FDA advisory committee will review Janssen’s vaccine on February 26th.
2. Local COVID-19 vaccine update:
Colorado moved into Phase 1B.2 last week. This phase includes Coloradoan’s who are age 65-69, pre-K through 12 educators, childcare workers, and continuity of state government. IDT’s should continue to discuss individual’s preference regarding getting the COVID-19 vaccine and what support the individual needs to access the vaccine when it becomes available to them. Individual’s receiving services should consult with their primary care physician regarding the vaccine and any medical questions they may have. After an individual in services receives their COVID-19 vaccine please send a copy/picture of the vaccine card to the Residential Program Coordinator.
3. Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine:
As Colorado continues to open additional
phases of the COVID-19 vaccine plan, more vaccine options are also becoming
available.
Individual’s in services who are eligible
for the vaccine may go through their primary care physician or participating
retail pharmacies across the state. To find out if your local retail pharmacy
is offering the COVID-19 vaccine, follow these links; King Soopers, Wal-Mart, Sam’s club, Walgreen’s
and Safeway.
Employees and contractors of Support, Inc.
are classified as Moderate-Risk Health Care workers and are also eligible for
the vaccine now. Employees and contractors may also utilize any of the retail
pharmacies listed above or their primary care physician. If you work out of our
Aurora office, you can use this
link for scheduling an appointment through the Tri-County Health
Department. If you work out of our Loveland office or Colorado Springs office,
please contact your Residential Program Coordinator or Supervisor for
additional information on how to schedule your vaccine in that area.
We have applied to host a vaccine clinic at
our Aurora office. Stay tuned for more information!
If you need any support or assistance scheduling a vaccine for yourself or an eligible individual you support, please reach out to your Residential Program Coordinator or Supervisor for assistance.
4. What to expect at your COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
5. Reporting your COVID-19 vaccine participation
For employees and contractors getting the COVID-19 vaccine, please send a copy of your vaccine card to hr.admin@supportinc.com. We are required to track participation and non-participation in the COVID-19 vaccine. Only our HR department will have access to your COVID-19 vaccine card. Vaccine participation and non-participation information will be used for internal and licensing reporting only.
Do you follow us on Facebook? We are running a social media campaign to #SupportTheShot and have joined Alliance Colorado’s campaign to #RollUpYourSleve and help Colorado conquer COVID. If you would like to be featured on our social media page email cathy.kellogg@supportinc.com with a picture and why getting the COVID-19 vaccine is important to you.
Be sure to never miss our correspondences, follow us on Facebook, be sure you are
on email and newsletter distribution lists and check out website for on-going updates about
COVID-19 and other happenings around the organization.
Support, Inc. will soon host it’s second Town Hall Meeting of 2021. Put on by our Associate Director of Quality Assurance, Laura Viers, and Director of Residential Services, Brian Farestad, these informative meetings provide the opportunity for constituents and providers alike to learn more about our recent COVID-19 updates and vaccine rollouts across the front range.
We want to thank everyone that joined our first Town Hall last month as we covered COVID-19 updates and details related to the vaccine. Many people asked good questions and this also gave us a chance to catch up over Zoom and to see how folks have been doing in recent weeks.
We’re hosting another Town Hall this month-for more information, please the flyer posted below. The purpose of these Town Halls is to make sure that you as providers and family members, are receiving good communication from Support, Inc., have the opportunity to connect with a larger group of people and are able to ask questions and give feedback that you may have. To RSVP, please contact Cathy at Cathy.Kellogg@supportinc.com and she will send you the Zoom link.
The following information was produced by our Associate Director of Quality Assurance, Laura Viers, on February 3rd, 2021:
To all Support, Inc. Staff, Providers and Families,
Colorado continues to review and update the State’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. On the updated plan below, highlighted in green are the groups the state is currently offering the vaccine to, this is people in Phase 1A and Phase 1B.1. The biggest change to the updated plan includes splitting Phase 1B into additional categories. This includes moving Coloradoan’s who are age 65-69 up in eligibility to Phase 1B.2, this will be the next group of people to have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Polis announced the Sate expects to move into Phase 1B.2 on February 8th.
Group 1B.3 includes Coloradoan’s age 16-64 who have two
or more high risk conditions. Many individuals in services may be eligible
in this phase of the vaccine. The state has defined these high risk
categories to include; Coloradoan’s with cancer (defined as a patient currently
receiving treatment or having received treatment within the last month for
cancer), chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes mellitus, Down Syndrome,
specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies, or coronary heart
disease, and severe valvular/congenital heart disease), obesity ((BMI ≥
30kg/m^2), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, solid organ transplant and people
with disabilities that prevent them from wearing masks.
Now is the time to discuss with the individual(s) you
support what their desire is for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Having these
conversations now will ensure the individual’s team understands the person’s
wishes regarding the vaccine as well as any supports that may be needed once
the individual is eligible. Having a plan now is crucial to ensure individuals
can get the supports needed to access the vaccine when they become eligible.
There is a lot happening with seemingly constant changes
regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. While employees and contractors of Support,
Inc. are eligible in Phase 1B.1 vaccine availability across the state varies
and there is a larger demand for the vaccine than there is supply to meet that
demand. Each county health department has a different process for connecting
eligible Coloradoans with a vaccine provider. Some counties have been slower to
get appointments set up or respond to our requests for large scale clinics for
our employees and contractors. The slow speed to get a vaccine appointment is
frustrating but hang in there. We remain committed to breaking through any
barriers to help support you in getting the vaccine.
The question often comes up about how we can get
individual’s in services scheduled to receive their vaccine. At this time
individual’s with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities do not have their
own unique group on Colorado’s Phased distribution plan. Individual’s receiving
services will be eligible for the vaccine based on the individual diagnosis and
age. We are also not able to set up clinics to administer the vaccine to
individual’s in services. As Colorado continues to increase vaccine supply and
subsequent phases become eligible, we hope to see more vaccine options for all
constituents of Support, Inc. We will continue to monitor these develops and
ensure we provide updates on a regular basis.
Please reach out to your team or me with any questions or concerns.
As vaccine efforts
continue to increase across the state, we recently got clarification from CDPHE
(Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) that employees and
contractors of Support, Inc. are designated as moderate-risk health care workers
and are included in Phase 1B of Colorado’s COVID-19 vaccine plan. Over this
week, a member of your team will be reaching out to you to discuss the COVID-19
vaccine. While the vaccine is voluntary, we are required to have tracking of
participation or non-participation in the vaccine. A member of your team will
also be discussing vaccine options with you and what supports you may need to
access the vaccine.
Support, Inc. continues to work to connect employees and contractors with vaccine options across the state. We have been in touch with local health departments to work with these entities to help establish large vaccine opportunities for everyone. At this time, we have heard from two health departments who have the capacity to help us connect employees and contractors with a vaccine provider. Your team will discuss these opportunities with you. If you do not want to use one of these options, you can continue to work through your primary care physician or other vaccine location.
Employees and contractors of Support, Inc. have been classified
by CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) as
moderate-risk healthcare workers and are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in
Phase 1B of Colorado’s distribution plan. Support, Inc. continues to work with
local County Health Departments to increase opportunities for employees and
contractors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. As vaccine availability across the
state is limited, we remain committed to supporting our staff, provider and
families to access the vaccine.
Please reach out to a member of your team or me at Laura.Viers@supportinc.com if you have any questions,
Thank you, Laura Viers Associate Director of Quality Assurance
