Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Monday December 7th, 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, we’re discussing the debate over the coronavirus vaccine and how it shows the differences between how politicians and public health workers think of the pandemic.

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to December 7th, 1929 when an estimated crowd of 10,000 people gathered atop the Royal Gorge to dedicate the world’s highest bridge.  It spans 1,260 feet in length and sits 956 feet above the Arkansas River.

And now, our feature story. 

Here’s a simple question for a pandemic where nothing is ever as simple as it seems: When should college students living in dorms get the coronavirus vaccine?

In one way of looking at this question, college-aged people are among the least likely Coloradans to die from COVID-19 or to need hospitalization, making them among the state’s most invulnerable. Back of the line, then.

In another way of looking at the question, people who live in dorms have no way to socially distance, making them among the state’s most vulnerable for both catching and spreading the virus. So step right up.

After months of quiet debate these questions have now taken on a very public urgency. The first doses of vaccine for Colorado are about to hit the mail.

Colorado Sun reporter John Ingold is joining us today to provide some insight into the differences between how politicians are thinking of prioritizing who receives the vaccine first, versus how public health workers are thinking about it.

John, thanks so much for joining. Can you start by telling us more about this debate? What is it really about?

And can you talk more about the arguments for prioritizing people who live in these congregate housing situations?

Right, but you mentioned the governor might not agree with that approach. Can you talk about that more?

And finally, when will we know which groups will be prioritized? 

Thank you, John.

As John explained, the state still has some time to figure this out. Colorado’s first shipment of coronavirus vaccine will only include about 43,000 doses, and there are more than 300,000 people estimated to be eligible for vaccination in the state’s Phase 1. It could be a couple months before there is enough vaccine available to begin Phase 2. That leaves an awful lot of time for debate on a question that is literally about life and death.

And thank you all for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ spouse, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, has been hospitalized because of worsening COVID-19 symptoms.

Coloradans are on edge. As individuals. As families. As communities. Colorado already had greater demand for behavioral health services than it could provide. And the safety net that even the state’s top mental health official says has “too many holes” might be further frayed by the tight state budget.

The biggest question though for many still unemployment is what is happening to extended benefits? And maybe the bigger question is, will you still get them? Of course, the answer is it depends.

Authorities on Saturday identified one of three sets of human remains discovered last month in the San Luis Valley as a missing Del Norte man. The remains of Myron Robert Martinez, who would have turned 38 in November, were found on a property in Conejos County.

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 Monday December 7th, 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. Today, we&rsquo;re discussing the debate over the coronavirus vaccine and how it shows the differences between how politicians and public health workers think of the pandemic.
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to December 7th, 1929 when an estimated crowd of 10,000 people gathered atop the Royal Gorge to dedicate the world&rsquo;s highest bridge.&nbsp; It spans 1,260 feet in length and sits 956 feet above the Arkansas River.
And now, our feature story.&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s a simple question for a pandemic where nothing is ever as simple as it seems: When should college students living in dorms get the coronavirus vaccine?
In one way of looking at this question, college-aged people are among the least likely Coloradans to die from COVID-19 or to need hospitalization, making them among the state&rsquo;s most invulnerable. Back of the line, then.
In another way of looking at the question, people who live in dorms have no way to socially distance, making them among the state&rsquo;s most vulnerable for both catching and spreading the virus. So step right up.
After months of quiet debate these questions have now taken on a very public urgency. The first doses of vaccine for Colorado <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/12/04/coronavirus-vaccine-colorado-distribution-plan/">are about to hit the mail</a>.
Colorado Sun reporter <a href="mailto:johningold@coloradosun.com">John Ingold</a> is joining us today to provide some insight into the differences between how politicians are thinking of prioritizing who receives the vaccine first, versus how public health workers are thinking about it.
John, thanks so much for joining. Can you start by telling us more about this debate? What is it really about?
And can you talk more about the arguments for prioritizing people who live in these congregate housing situations?
Right, but you mentioned the governor might not agree with that approach. Can you talk about that more?
And finally, when will we know which groups will be prioritized?&nbsp;
Thank you, John.
As John explained, the state still has some time to figure this out. Colorado&rsquo;s first shipment of coronavirus vaccine will only include about 43,000 doses, and there are more than 300,000 people estimated to be eligible for vaccination in the state&rsquo;s Phase 1. It could be a couple months before there is enough vaccine available to begin Phase 2. That leaves an awful lot of time for debate on a question that is literally about life and death.
And thank you all for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis&rsquo; spouse, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, has been hospitalized because of worsening COVID-19 symptoms.
Coloradans are on edge. As individuals. As families. As communities. Colorado already had greater demand for behavioral health services than it could provide. And the safety net that even the state&rsquo;s top mental health official says has &ldquo;too many holes&rdquo; might be further frayed by the tight state budget.
The biggest question though for many still unemployment is what is happening to extended benefits? And maybe the bigger question is, will you still get them? Of course, the answer is it depends.
Authorities on Saturday identified one of three sets of human remains <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/11/18/human-remains-san-luis-valley-suspect-at-large/">discovered last month</a> in the San Luis Valley as a missing Del Norte man. The remains of Myron Robert Martinez, who would have turned 38 in November, were found on a property in Conejos County.
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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