New COVID-19 vaccination data shows that 27% of San Luis Valley residents have been fully vaccinated, meaning they have received two doses of either Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of Janssen. Once a person has been vaccinated with 2 doses of Moderna or Pfizer, or one dose of Janssen vaccine, it takes two more weeks for maximum protective benefits to develop and be immunized. Another 9% of residents have received their first dose and still need to get a second one. It is estimated that about 20% of our residents are children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine (less than 16 years old), leaving 44% of our residents who are eligible, but have not yet received their first dose of vaccine. Vaccines have been tested for safety and effectiveness. No Janssen vaccines are currently being administered while some very rare reactions are investigated.
COVID-19 illness is still present in our community, so masks and other precautions are strongly encouraged, whether or not the state order specifies that they are mandated. The current statewide mask order requires people to wear masks in public indoor settings when there are 10 or more people present who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, in counties with a one-week case incidence rate of 35/100,000 or higher. Right now, that applies in Alamosa, Conejos, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties. This rate will be available beginning Tuesday at www.slvphp.com/slv-regional-covid-dial.
In all counties, the current statewide mask order also requires the use of masks in schools, childcare centers, indoor childrens’ camps, public-facing government facilities, healthcare settings, personal care services like hair salons, congregate care facilities, prisons, and jails.
There are currently 76 known active cases of COVID-19 in the San Luis Valley. County-specific active case counts are listed below.
Alamosa County - 41
Conejos County - 16
Costilla County - 0
Mineral County - 0
Rio Grande County - 12
Saguache County - 7
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested through our regular testing providers:
Rio Grande Hospital 719-657-4990
SLV Health Respiratory Clinic 719-589-3000 ext. 9
Valley-Wide Health Systems 719-589-3658 ext. 4 (M-F), 719-589-2562 (Sa/Su)
To sign up to receive a vaccine, contact one of the local providers below. Online signup links for these providers can be found at www.slvphp.com. If you have an appointment and you can’t make it, please call to cancel so that no vaccine is wasted.
Valley-Wide Health Systems (719) 587-9610
Rio Grande Hospital (719) 657-2418
SLV Health (719) 587-1355
Alamosa County Public Health (719) 589-6639
Conejos County Public Health (719) 274-4307
Costilla County Public Health (719) 672-3332
Silver Thread Public Health (719) 658-2416
Rio Grande County Public Health (719) 657-3352
Saguache County Public Health (719) 655-2533
City Market Pharmacy - www.citymarket.com/rx/guest/get-vaccinated
Safeway Pharmacy - www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt
Walgreens Pharmacy - www.walgreens.com
Walmart Pharmacy - www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine