SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
32 VOLUME 34
C I T Y
50cI
48 ISSUE 02
TUESDAY ,N 24,2021 2020 TUESDAY , JOVEMBER ANUARY 5,
New COVID-19 restrictionsunderway will prohibit gatherings to COVID vaccinations at indoor Plattedining, ValleypersonalState Brighton hospital staff excited, relieved to begin getting immunity shots BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Christmas came a few days early for Dennis Bradberry, a respiratory therapist at Brighton’s Platte Valley Medical Center, and the rest of his hospital colleagues in the form of sore arms, a bright orange sticker and a growing immunity to the COVID-19 virus. “Everybody is saying `My arm is sore,’ but it’s worth it,” Bradberry said. “When you’ve seen what we see all day, every day, it’s totally worth it.” Bradberry received his vaccine Dec. 23, the second day of COVID-19 vaccines at the hospital. Caitlyn Major, communications manager Platte Valley Medical Center Critical Care Respiratory Technician Dennis Bradberry get for the hospital, said they set up his first COVID-19 vaccination from Gentry Johnson Dec. 23. Bradberry, who has been a room to bring in all 900 hospital treating COVID-19 patients since the pandemic virus began in March. SCOTT TAYLOR associates, get them screened and 94 degrees below zero. That requires vaccinated. Regularly freezer special cold equipment and room for Once they get their shots, each asPlatte Valley is receiving the storage. And once vials are thawed second vaccine to be released in sociate is monitored for 15 minutes for use, they must be used within the United States, manufactured by to check for allergic reactions and biotech company Moderna. The first two hours. then sent on their way. “Moderna uses a different provials reached the Brighton hospital They must return for a second tein,” he said. “It took them a little Dec. 22 in the afternoon. Staff were shot after 28 days to reach full imlonger to work with it, but it’s much set up to begin injecting staff in munity. more stable. We can keep it in a two hours and they had given the But rather than just sitting freezer, just a regular freezer.” vaccine to 99 people by the end of around, the hospital’s post-vaccinaThe vaccine has a much longer life the day. tion waiting area has a celebratory once it’s been thawed, of about six “It won’t take us very long,” John feeling, as associates talk, eat candy hours. He expects to see the ModHicks, president and CEO of Platte and share stories. erna vaccine beingArnold made available Valley, said. “I think, a little after For Broadberry, it’s easy to underBy Ellis areas and at neighborhood Christmas andtesting we’ll have stand employees A longwhy linethe of cars outsideare theexcited city of Brighton’s rapid sitethe at major- in ruralColorado shops when it’sCommunity publicly Media available. ity of employees and medical staff to have the vaccines. A respiratory Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent vaccinated.” therapist in critical care, he’s been weeks due to highpatients demand.since Adams County’s 14-day test positivity rate Asarms Denver metro counties continue to The Colorado Department of Pubtreating COVID1-9 Sore inch closer to local stay-at-home orders is working the next March. Hicks noted that all of his employwas 15.9 percent, as of Nov. 17, accordinglictoHealth Tri-County Healthout Department. stages rates of vaccination, ees will be walking around with sore “That’s and what’s awesomeCity’s abouttest positivity under Colorado’s system of coronavirusBrighton Commerce were both which higherwould than include seniors living in group situarms the vaccination. That’s a this today,” Bradberry said. “This relatedfrom restrictions, the state announced 13 percent. Forty-five people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have ations, police, fire and other first good thing, Hicks said. is the first step towards ending this. a new levelhow of rules prohibits indoor diedrather from COVID-19 To limit the spread responders. Hicks saidofheCOVID-19, does not “That’s youthat know it’s workAnd than justrelated having health us at issues. dining and personal gatherings — a know what those next stages will ing,” he said. “You want that reacthe hospital being the ones to dealing at least 15 counties moved tighter restrictions that prohibits indoor and change that applies to the majority of the look like, but said he’d be pleased to tion, to some extent. You want your with everything, this gives every personal gatherings. have Platte Valley involved. immune system to recognize that individual person the ability to help Denver metro area and many counties in Both vaccines rely on attaching ge- it’s been injected with something us out.” other regions. netic information to a protein. Phar- that’s not quite right and begin The hospital began offering the The state’s COVID-19 dial, which maceutical company Pfi zer made building defenses. That how vac-has vaccine to local fire fighters, police Photo by Belen Ward been in effect since September, is the set the first vaccine released in the U.S. cines work and the pain you get and emergency medical personel on of different of restrictions that each and the protein it uses requires it be shows thatlevels it’s doing the jobs. Dec. 30. kept in ultracold conditions, about
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loosen restrictions, but Adams County curfew to remain in place Confusion over governor’s surprise announcement to move counties to ”level orange” BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Adams County will remain under a stricter public health order next week, while restrictions will loosen elsewhere. In a surprise announcement on Dec. 30, Gov. Jared Polis said “level red” counties will move to “level orange” on Jan. 4. However, Adams County is under a Tri-County Health Department public health mandate, which includes a curfew, county is required to follow based on the that is set expirelocal Jan.virus 7. spread. severity of atocounty’s Given the unexpected nature of The dialannouncement, grew out of the state’s safer-at-is Polis’ the county home order theguess. policy that making its— best Thecame stateafter has the statewidesaid stay-at-home order this previously that a stricter order — be itand a state or count onetypes — superspring allowed numerous of sedes a less strict one. businesses to reopen. “The public health order is curThe state recently switched to color rently still in place,” said county identifiers — levels blue, yellow and “I spokesperson Christa Bruning, have been given any additional orangenot rather than numbered levels — to guidance.” ThatUntil includes quesavoid confusion. Nov. 17,the level red tion of whether Tri-County might meant a stay-at-home order. Now, level rescind or extend the order. red — “severe risk” —public is the secondAdams County’s health order imposes a curfew for public
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