Colorado’s vaccine efforts continue to carry along as the state reached critical milestones last week.

On April 1, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment announced that 1 million Coloradans are now fully vaccinated.

“it’s great news to reach this milestone,” said Scott Sherman, Brigadier General, CO Nat. Guard and director of the UCC Vaccine Joint Task Force in a statement. “Each vaccine is a step toward getting back to normal – but we can’t stop now. We are focused on ensuring that every Coloradan who wants a vaccine will be able to receive the first dose by the end of May.”

The second critical milestone Colorado reached is opening up vaccine eligibility to all Coloradans over the age of 16. As of April 2, anybody over the age of 16 in Colorado can get a COVID-19 vaccine now.

The news is promising as we work toward returning to pre-pandemic times, but now the challenge will be finding a vaccine appointment.

Colorado launched six community vaccination clinics across the state to help with vaccine administration and access. Those sites are at Dick’s Sporting Good Park (6000 Victory Way, Commerce City), Ball Arena (1000 Chopper Circle, Denver), Broadmoor World Arena (3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs), The Ranch (5280 Arena Circle, Loveland), Grand Junction Convention Center (159 Main St., Grand Junction) and Colorado State Fairgrounds (1001 Beulah Ave., Pueblo). For information about signing up for these clinics, visit covid19.colorado.gov/for-coloradans/faccine/where-can-i-get-vaccinated.

Outside of the community vaccination clinics, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Safeway, Cardinal, City Market/King Soopers and Costco are each administering COVID-19 vaccines through the U.S. Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Those who are interested in receiving a vaccine at those stores can visit vaccinefinder.org to check vaccine availability at each location or can schedule a vaccine appointment.

Those who are on Facebook can receive help through the Colorado Vaccine Hunter Facebook group. The purpose of the group is to provide tips to help Coloradans register for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, connect people who need help registering for the vaccine, share information about vaccine waitlists and more. The group has more than 25,000 followers and is free to join. To register for the group, go to facebook.com/groups/covaccinehunters.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The vaccines were evaluated during clinical trials in which tens of thousands of people participated.

COVID-19 vaccines are free, and it is possible you may experience common side effects after getting a COVID-19 VACCINE. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or two weeks after the single dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.