Chaffee County, CO – Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) is pleased to announce that COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025–2026 season are now available for community members ages 6 months and older. Thanks to a new statewide standing order from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), health care providers, including public health agencies, pharmacies, and licensed medical professionals, can now administer COVID-19 vaccines under updated guidance supported by leading medical organizations. This order allows Colorado to follow recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and evidence reviews from the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine
Integrity Project.
The following are the recommendations in the standing order: Infants and children 6 months through 23 months of age who are in one or more of the following categories should receive 1 or more doses of the age-appropriate 2025-2026 Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine:
● Unvaccinated
● Have an incomplete initial vaccinations series
● Have previously completed an initial series
Children 2 through 4 years of age who are in one or more of the following categories should receive a single dose
of age-appropriate 2025-2026 Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine:
● at high risk of severe COVID-19,
● residents of long-term care facilities or other congregate settings,
● have never been vaccinated against COVID-19, or
● children whose household contacts are at high risk for severe COVID-19. ● Children 2 through 4 years of age not included in the risk groups above whose parent or guardian desires
their protection from COVID-19 should be offered a single dose of age-appropriate 2025-2026 Moderna
mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
Children and teens 5 through 18 years of age who are in one or more of the following categories should receive a
single dose of an age-appropriate 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine:
● at high risk of severe COVID-19, including being pregnant as pregnancy is a high-risk condition for severe
COVID-19,
● residents of long-term care facilities or other congregate settings,
● have never been vaccinated against COVID-19, or 2
● have household contacts who are at high risk for severe COVID-19.
● Children and teens 5 through 18 years of age not included in the risk groups above whose parent or
guardian desires their protection from COVID-19 should be offered a single dose of an age-appropriate
2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine.
People ages 19-64 years included in a high-risk group should receive an age-appropriate 2025-2026 COVID-19
vaccine.
● Pregnancy is a high-risk condition for severe COVID-19. Pregnant people have historically been at an
increased risk of severe disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and maternal death from COVID-19
infections.
● People ages 19-64 years not included in a high-risk group who desire their protection from COVID-19
should be offered an age-appropriate 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine.
People ages 65 years and older:
● Should receive 2 doses of any age-appropriate 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, spaced 6 months (minimum
interval 2 months) apart, regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination history.
“This standing order reduces barriers and ensures that more Coloradans can access safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines if they choose to, and CCPH will continue to follow the strong guidance and recommendations based on science-driven subject-matter experts and organizations,” said Andrea Carlstrom, CCPH Director. “Our community will benefit from greater flexibility and more opportunities to get protected.”
COVID-19 vaccines are available at Chaffee County Public Health clinics as well as local pharmacies, ensuring convenient access for families and individuals. Because state recommendations currently differ from those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA), insurance coverage may vary depending on your plan. CCPH encourages residents to check with their insurance provider before their appointment. Regardless of insurance status, CCPH is committed to working with residents to make vaccination as accessible as possible. At the time of this press release, CCPH only has the vaccine available for those who have private insurance, and it is anticipated that it could have a supply for those who do not have insurance or have Medicaid as their insurance in the upcoming days. For more information about eligibility or to schedule an appointment, please call Chaffee County Public Health at 719-539-4510.
