New Video Shows COVID-19 Vaccine Dry Run In Colorado
By Rebekah Gonzalez
December 10, 2020
The Colorado Unified Coordination Center has completed a drill to test its ability to deliver the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine, according to Governor Jared Polis' office.
During the four-hour end-to-end exercise drill completed earlier this week, the vaccine arrives at the Denver International Airport. There, the vaccine is loaded into a secure vehicle and driven to Vail Health, one of the several distribution centers across Colorado.
Once at Vail Health, the vaccine is then transferred into a refrigerator and removed for a practice injection.
The exercise included all security protocols, according to a statement from the governor's office. These protocols will allow the state to monitor distribution closely so none of the vaccine supply will be wasted.
The dry run allowed multiple departments to train for their role in distributing the vaccine.
The Colorado Unified Coordination Center, the Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Department of Public Safety staff focused on the hand-to-hand transport of the Pfizer vaccine.
The Unified Coordination Center was able to conduct a tabletop exercise to test out different problematic scenarios like disruptions to transportation routes.
On Wednesday, December 9, Governor Polis updated the public on the dry run and the state's plans for distributing the vaccine.
"The focus of this plan is to save lives and end the crisis as soon as possible. Which means prioritizing our most at-risk health care workers and individuals," said Governor Polis. "This vaccine is the gateway to a life without this crisis, but it will take time until everyone can access it because of the limited supply of vaccines so we must continue to do what we know works to slow the spread of the virus."
Photo: Getty Images