The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has extended its COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the La Plata County Fairgrounds for several weeks, and is set to close on Friday, Dec. 2. There will be modified hours, beginning with a closure on Friday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
SJBPH urges the community to take advantage of the free and convenient CDPHE vaccine clinic at the fairgrounds which has been providing a critical community resource in protecting against COVID-19. Both primary series and booster doses for the omicron variant are available at the clinic for anyone ages 5 and above. As the weather cools and more activities move indoors, staying up to date on COVID-19 and flu vaccines is more important than ever to protect ourselves, our families and our communities from severe illness.
Following Friday’s closure for Veterans Day, the clinic hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on:
- Nov. 12
- Nov. 14-16
- Nov. 21-23
- Nov. 28-Dec. 2
People who previously received any number of COVID-19 booster doses should also receive an omicron dose at least two months after completing their primary series or their most recent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. People who recently had COVID-19 may wait up to three months after testing positive or symptom onset before scheduling an omicron booster. Book an appointment at this link. Clinic hours of operation and additional providers are posted on the San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) website.
Colorado is experiencing an upward trend in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with steep increases in percent positivity and hospitalizations. BA.5 remains the most prevalent subvariant, with BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and BF.7 emerging as new subvariants that could result in increased transmission in the months ahead. COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased sharply in the Southwest Colorado region in recent days.
Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by COVID-19 and its variants. It remains especially important for older adults and high-risk individuals to be up to date on vaccinations in advance of the winter when more activities move indoors and the spread of respiratory illnesses increases.
The COVID-19 omicron booster is also available locally through medical providers, pharmacies and on CDPHE’s mobile vaccine clinics held throughout the region. To find a vaccine, contact your medical provider or pharmacy, visit vaccines.gov or call Colorado’s Vaccine Hotline (877- 268-2926). Find locations of the CDPHE mobile vaccine clinic and book an appointment at this link. Additionally, SJBPH also has limited omicron booster appointments available at its Durango and Pagosa Springs offices.
There is free community PCR testing available at the La Plata CountyFairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday and Saturday. At-home tests are available free at the SJBPH offices in both Durango and Pagosa Springs. More information about testing is available on SJBPH’s website.
KN95 masks are also available at SJBPH front desks in Durango and Pagosa Springs.
COVID-19 treatments are available if you test positive. You should get treatment as soon as possible when you start to feel symptoms. If you are at high risk and have COVID-19, ask your health care provider about treatment as soon as you can. Telehealth is also an option for receiving treatment. Learn more about how to access COVID-19 treatments via the State of Colorado or SJBPH.