COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Vaccination Information for People 70 and Over

Below are FAQs related to Gov. Jared Polis’ recent announcement that Colorado citizens age 70 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Updated 1-15-21

Is BCH providing vaccinations to people age 70 and older?

Yes, we started vaccinating current patients age 70 and older on January 4. At this time, we are focusing our efforts on patients of BCH-employed physicians. We are contacting appropriate patients on an ongoing basis to encourage them to schedule a vaccination. Click here to find a list of BCH-employed physicians.

We expect to complete this initial phase in early- to mid-February, depending on the availability of vaccine. At that point, we will work with affiliated and community clinics to contact their patients.

It’s important to recognize that BCH’s ability to vaccinate the community depends on ongoing access to supplies of COVID-19 vaccine.

If I have a BCH-employed doctor, when will I be contacted?

We have already started contacting appropriate patients of BCH doctors. However, BCH physicians care for about 9,700 patients age 70 and older, so it could take until mid-February to get every patient scheduled for a vaccination. We are being as aggressive as possible with vaccination scheduling, but the vaccine supply determines how many people we can schedule. As we receive more vaccine, we will notify more patients.

How do I know if my physician is BCH-employed or not?

If you are unsure if your physician is directly employed by BCH, you can view our physician/clinic directory to check. This list contains all physicians who are currently employed by BCH.

Why is BCH vaccinating its own patients first?

There are two broad goals for Colorado’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccine – distributing the vaccine as soon as possible and prioritizing distribution to ensure the most at-risk population groups get vaccine first. The state has identified residents age 70 and older as the initial target for vaccination. The quickest and most efficient way for BCH to schedule local 70-and-older patients is to contact people who have used our health system – through their records, we know they are the right age, we have their contact information, and many are already using the MyBCH patient portal that is used to schedule vaccination appointments. Other Colorado health systems are using the same process, initially targeting their own patients as a means for administering vaccine as efficiently as possible.

How do you decide which BCH patients get contacted first?

We tried different approaches but have settled on picking patients randomly, giving every patient the same potential to be eligible for vaccination. We believe this approach is equitable, easy to understand and less stressful for people who are waiting to be contacted about vaccination.

My doctor is not directly employed by BCH. When will I be contacted about vaccination?

We started our vaccinations of those 70 and older with patients who have an established relationship with a BCH-employed physician. It could take until mid-February to get all those patients vaccinated. We then plan to expand distribution to patients of affiliated and independent medical clinics across our community. It’s important to recognize that there are about 30,000 Boulder County residents age 70 and older, so it may take a few months to vaccinate all patients age 70 and older. Timing of vaccinations depends on the supply of vaccine. As we receive more vaccine, we will notify more patients.

How do I sign up for a vaccination from BCH?

Patients cannot sign up for the vaccine. We will contact appropriate patients when they are eligible to receive vaccine. Vaccination scheduling will be done primarily through the MyBCH patient portal, which provides a secure online connection to BCH services and physicians. The quickest and most efficient way to schedule a vaccination from BCH is through a MyBCH account.

Can I choose which vaccine I receive?

BCH has both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines, both of which require two doses. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a choice of which vaccine you will receive.

I already have a MyBCH account. What should I do next?

Check your account to make sure your personal information is up to date. Keep in mind that patients cannot request the vaccine. We will notify appropriate patients through MyBCH when they are eligible to receive vaccine.

I don’t have a MyBCH account. How do I get one?

You can sign up for a MyBCH account through the BCH website. Go to bch.org/vaccine and complete the application.

What if I have trouble accessing or signing up for the MyBCH account?

If you have any issues trying to sign up or sign in to the MyBCH portal, please email the BCH Health Information Management team at MyBCH@bch.org. Please note that with many local residents signing up for MyBCH, HIM has received a large volume of emails requesting support and it may take time to respond to individual requests.

How much does the vaccine cost?

There is no charge for the vaccine

How long will I have to wait to get vaccinated?

At this point, it’s impossible to predict how long it will take to vaccinate all community members age 70 and older. It could take a few months to vaccinate everyone, depending on our supply of vaccine.

How will I be notified when it’s my turn to schedule a vaccination?

You will be notified via an email from MyBCH.

How can I get additional information?

BCH has set up a special page on our website that provides information on the vaccination program. That page is updated regularly. Go to bch.org/COVIDvaccine.

What should I do if I’m under age 70?

At this point, we will continue using our available vaccine to provide first doses for people age 70 and older and second doses for individuals who have already had their initial vaccination. We will expand vaccination to additional groups based on State guidance and the availability of vaccine. It’s important to recognize that there are about 30,000 Boulder County residents age 70 and older, so it may take a few months to finish vaccinating that group. Timing of vaccinations depends on the supply of vaccine. As we receive more vaccine, we will notify more patients. You can check our website periodically for the latest updates on vaccination. Go to bch.org/COVIDvaccine.

If you don’t have a MyBCH account, we encourage you to set one up. See questions above for more information.