Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Tuesday January 26th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. 

Today - The vaccine disparity is statewide, with a higher proportion of whites getting vaccinated. 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to January 26th, 1875 when The New York Times reported on a brutal interaction between cattle and sheep ranchers. A Feud that lingered into the Great Depression. Finally in 1934 the Taylor Grazing Act established a land management system.

It’s still early in Colorado’s vaccination rollout, but the initial statistics about who is getting word about vaccine clinics, who is seeking out appointments, and who is showing up to be immunized reveal gaping disparities along racial and economic lines.  

Even though the work to create an equitable distribution began months ago, the way the first doses have been spread across the state has favored white Coloradans. Those who are active patients in a health system, who are tuned in via social media and online networks, and those who are native English speakers.

In response, public health workers and newly formed vaccine equity task forces are mobilizing to bring the vaccine to places where vaccination rates have been lower historically in Colorado. To reach communities of color, the strategy is twofold -- breaking down logistical barriers such as in language and transportation, and battling an ingrained mistrust of the government and medical providers.

Colorado Sun reporter Jennifer Brown is joining us today to tell us more.

Initial statewide data shows that white Coloradans have accounted for about 68% of those receiving at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine so far, which is roughly equal to white representation in the state. Black Coloradans, however, have accounted for just 1.8% of vaccinations, even though they represent about 4% of the population. And Hispanic Coloradans have received 4.3% of the vaccines despite representing 22% of the population. The data is incomplete, however, and in some cases, race was not recorded.

Those are total vaccination numbers from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, so they include vaccines for health care workers, first responders and those 70 and older, the three groups at the top of the state’s priority list. 

Brig. Gen. Scott Sherman, who is in charge of the state’s coronavirus vaccine distribution, said the data so far is heavily influenced by the makeup of the health care and fire responder workforces, which are predominately white. The state will release demographic data for vaccinations specifically among the 70 and older population later this week, he said.

But  among health care workers black, Latino and other minority staff seem less likely to get the vaccine than their white peers. By mid-January, Centura had administered 25,736 doses to its workers. Black workers were 44% less likely to get vaccinated than white workers and Latino workers were 22% less likely. 

And they all got the same email inviting them to get vaccinated.

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

A company that started to sell personal protective equipment soon after the coronavirus pandemic began will pay $70,000 to settle claims that it misled and gouged consumers in violation of Colorado law. Nationwide Medical Supply denies the state attorney general's allegations that it resold masks marketing higher effectiveness than they had, and charged more than 250 percent more than the products cost the company to buy.

Colorado is moving forward with its plan to import prescription drugs from Canada. The state has asked for vendors to apply to help run the program, but Colorado still needs to receive federal approval and iron out other issues before it's hoped-for start date in 2023.

The average salary for a Colorado teacher is several thousand dollars less than the national average. Experts warn that the current recession adds an additional stress to the state’s educators, and without intervention, teacher shortages will likely continue.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Tuesday January 26th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories.&nbsp;
Today - The vaccine disparity is statewide, with a higher proportion of whites getting vaccinated.&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to January 26th, 1875 when The New York Times reported on a brutal interaction between cattle and sheep ranchers. A Feud that lingered into the Great Depression. Finally in 1934 the Taylor Grazing Act established a land management system.
It&rsquo;s still early in Colorado&rsquo;s vaccination rollout, but the initial statistics about who is getting word about vaccine clinics, who is seeking out appointments, and who is showing up to be immunized reveal gaping disparities along racial and economic lines.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Even though the work to create an equitable distribution began months ago, the way the first doses have been spread across the state has favored white Coloradans. Those who are active patients in a health system, who are tuned in via social media and online networks, and those who are native English speakers.
In response, public health workers and newly formed vaccine equity task forces are mobilizing to bring the vaccine to places where vaccination rates have been lower historically in Colorado. To reach communities of color, the strategy is twofold -- breaking down logistical barriers such as in language and transportation, and battling an ingrained mistrust of the government and medical providers.
Colorado Sun reporter Jennifer Brown is joining us today to tell us more.
Initial<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2021/01/23/colorado-coronavirus-vaccine-race-equity/"> statewide data shows</a> that white Coloradans have accounted for about 68% of those receiving at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine so far, which is roughly equal to white representation in the state. Black Coloradans, however, have accounted for just 1.8% of vaccinations, even though they represent about 4% of the population. And Hispanic Coloradans have received 4.3% of the vaccines despite representing 22% of the population. The data is incomplete, however, and in some cases, race was not recorded.
Those are total vaccination numbers from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, so they include vaccines for health care workers, first responders and those 70 and older, the three groups at the top of the state&rsquo;s priority list.&nbsp;
Brig. Gen. Scott Sherman, who is in charge of the state&rsquo;s coronavirus vaccine distribution, said the data so far is heavily influenced by the makeup of the health care and fire responder workforces, which are predominately white. The state will release demographic data for vaccinations specifically among the 70 and older population later this week, he said.
But&nbsp; among health care workers black, Latino and other minority staff seem less likely to get the vaccine than their white peers. By mid-January, Centura had administered 25,736 doses to its workers. Black workers were 44% less likely to get vaccinated than white workers and Latino workers were 22% less likely.&nbsp;
And they all got the same email inviting them to get vaccinated.
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
A company that started to sell personal protective equipment soon after the coronavirus pandemic began will pay $70,000 to settle claims that it misled and gouged consumers in violation of Colorado law. Nationwide Medical Supply denies the state attorney general's allegations that it resold masks marketing higher effectiveness than they had, and charged more than 250 percent more than the products cost the company to buy.
Colorado is moving forward with its plan to import prescription drugs from Canada. The state has asked for vendors to apply to help run the program, but Colorado still needs to receive federal approval and iron out other issues before it's hoped-for start date in 2023.
The average salary for a Colorado teacher is several thousand dollars less than the national average. Experts warn that the current recession adds an additional stress to the state&rsquo;s educators, and without intervention, teacher shortages will likely continue.
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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