'We Were Lied To:' Colorado To Receive 130K Fewer Vaccine Doses

The federal government told Colorado that a second dose was being held in reserve, but that information wasn't accurate, Gov. Jared Polis said during a virtual news conference Friday.

Colorado expected to receive 210,000 doses of the vaccine from the national reserve next week, but our state is now set to receive only 79,000 doses.

Coloradans ages 70 and older will be hardest hit by the new amount.

"We were lied to, and there's no national reserve," Polis said.

"Contrary to a call we had with the vice president, secretary of health several days ago, where they informed us we would get an additional quantity ... that was unfortunately not true. We were ready to deploy it right away, but now we know it simply doesn't exist."

"My guess is it's gross incompetence."

Patch reached out to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Despite the setback, Colorado's goal is to have 70 percent of people ages 70 and older vaccinated by the end of February, Polis said.

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"The more doses we get sooner, the sooner we can start [ages] 65 and up, and we can start teachers and bus drivers and others that work on the front lines," the governor said.

"I'm very hopeful that the Biden administration's goal of 100 million doses in 100 days will be a reality."

In February, the supply of doses is expected to go up to between 90,000 and 100,000 per week, Polis said.

"We have been lied to before, and perhaps there will be unanticipated changes to the supply chain," the governor said.

"But we are also hopeful ... for the FDA approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine."

Phase 1A of Colorado's vaccine distribution plan is "largely" complete, but some front-line healthcare workers may still "trickle in," Polis said.

"By and large, Colorado's prioritization is 70 and up, 70 and up, 70 and up."

As of Friday, 64,500 first doses of the vaccine had been given to front-line health care workers, and 48,000 second doses had been given to the workers, according to state public health data.