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COVID-19 Information

Caring for you and your health is our top priority. We want to make sure you stay informed about COVID-19.

Protect Yourself and Others

Even though we are no longer in the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still important to protect yourself and others from getting sick. COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses can make you, and others, very sick.

There are many ways to prevent getting sick:

  • Stay up to date on vaccines, like flu, COVID-19, and RSV (if you are eligible). This can help protect you from getting very sick, having to go to the hospital, or even dying.
  • Practice good hygiene:
    • Cover your coughs and sneezes.
    • Wash or sanitize your hands often.
    • Clean surfaces that you touch often.
  • Take steps for cleaner air:
    • Open windows and doors when you are indoors. This helps bring more fresh outdoor air indoors.
    • Purify indoor air.
    • Go outside more often.

Learn more at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.

COVID-19 Vaccines

The safest, easiest way to lower your risk of getting very sick is to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine can also help you lower your risk of getting long COVID. All people 6 months and older should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

All people six months and older should get a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. It’s safe to get your COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time.

Most people only need one dose of the updated vaccine. But some people may need more than one dose of the updated vaccine:

Learn more at cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Talk to your doctor about how many doses you need, or your child needs. You should also talk to your doctor about when to schedule each dose. If you don’t have a doctor, we can help you find one. Call us at 800-5110-5010. Or look for a doctor online.

You do not need to talk to a doctor to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccines are a free covered benefit if you have Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Adults can get vaccines from pharmacists, other pharmacy licensed staff, or your primary care doctor (PCP). Check with your child’s doctor if they offer the COVID-19 vaccine.

Find a vaccine near you:

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at:

Learn more about other important vaccines at coaccess.com/immunizations

COVID-19 Booster Shots

A COVID-19 booster shot is an extra shot after your first COVID-19 vaccine series. This means either your first shot of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine or your second shot of the PfizerBioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna vaccines. Booster shots are used in other vaccines for more protection against things like measles, whooping cough, or tetanus.

If you get the COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises you to also get a booster shot. This will give you the most protection against COVID-19. Vaccines work very well against COVID-19. But over time, you can lose that protection.

It’s very important for people who are at a higher risk of getting sick or dying from COVID-19 to get a booster shot. This means people who:

  • Are 50 and older.
  • Live in long-term care facilities.
  • Are immunocompromised.
  • Have certain health conditions. This means things like asthma, cancer, or diabetes.
  • Are pregnant. Or were recently pregnant.

COVID-19 vaccines are a free covered benefit if you have Health First or CHP+.

COVID-19 Testing

With Health First Colorado, you can get up to 15 tests each month.

  • The tests must come from a pharmacy that is enrolled in Health First Colorado.
    • Click here for a list of pharmacies you can get tests from. There will be no cost to you and no copay.
  • Tests often come in kits of two tests.
    • This means that you can get up to seven kits (14 tests) each month.

With CHP+, you can get up to eight tests each month.

  • The tests must come from a pharmacy that is enrolled in CHP+. There will be no cost to you and no copay.
    • If you need help to find a pharmacy to get tests from, call the number on the back of your CHP+ ID card.
  • Tests often come in kits of two tests.
    • This means that you can get up to four kits (eight tests) each month.

Health First Colorado and CHP+ will pay the pharmacies back after you get the free tests.

Click here to learn more.

COVID-19 Testing

Testing for COVID-19 can help you know if you have it. Then you can decide what to do next. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay away from other people. This means staying home and staying away from people you live with.

You should also get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms. If you have risk factors for getting very sick from COVID-19, you should also get treatment. Treatment may lower your risk of getting very sick.

Click here to learn more about testing.

More Resources

Go to cdphe.colorado.gov to learn more about:

  • Businesses and jobs
  • Childcare
  • COVID-19
    • Diagnosis
    • Exposure
    • Medication
    • Testing
    • Travel
  • Data
  • Food resources
  • Housing
  • Pets
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Vaccines