Fully Vaccinated Facilities Program

To become and operate as a Fully Vaccinated Facility or Event Facility or Event, the owner or operator of the indoor space must do the following:

1. Pitkin County PH will review the submitted application to make sure the below two requirements are met and follow up with requests for more information, if any.
   • Written Policy: The facility or event must have a written policy and process requiring proof of vaccination for all individuals entering the indoor space.
   • 100% Rule: The policy results in the facility or event verifying that 100% of the individuals in its indoor space are fully vaccinated, including employees, staff, guests, members, visitors, etc. 
2. Pitkin County Public Health will either approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application.

Upon approval, the facility or event must post provided signs indicating proof of vaccination is required for entry. Downloadable copies of this signage is available above or on our communications resources page. Once the facility or event implements its policy, it may start permitting individuals within the facility to remove their masks after verification of proof of vaccination for all individuals and pursuant to the approval.

Any business, event, or organization operating in an indoor space may apply to become a Fully Vaccinated Facility or Event. A Fully Vaccinated Facility or Event may apply to an entire building 24/7, certain times and dates, certain rooms within the facility, or may just be limited to a single event at that facility.

This program is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of our diverse community.

Although there are no requirements for masks outdoors, facilities and events may choose to implement proof of vaccination requirements for outdoor spaces. However, approval from Pitkin County Public Health is not necessary for outdoor spaces.

Facilities and events subject to state or federal orders requiring face coverings regardless of vaccination status, including facilities subject to the Colorado Department of Health Public Health Order 20-20 (long term care facilities etc.) and the CDC Transportation Order are not eligible for this program.

Childcare and PK-12 schools subject to the Eleventh Amended Pitkin County Public Health Order – 2nd Addendum are not eligible for the vaccine verification program. Youth activities and sports are not eligible for the vaccine verification program. More information on schools can be found here. 

The keystone to the application process is a facility’s or event’s vaccination verification policy and the implementation of that policy.

To meet the requirements of this program, the policy must result in 100% of the individuals in the indoor space being vaccinated. 

Facilities and event organizers are advised to consult legal counsel to determine appropriate policies based on their particular circumstances and considering their legal requirements and obligations.

Please see the application form for more information and to apply. 

Evaluation of Applications

The Fully Vaccinated Facilities program recognizes that each facility and event may have unique needs reflecting the diversity and size of our community. To be eligible for this program, facilities and events must prove that they are meeting the two requirements below. This program does not require any particular type of written policy nor does it require or prohibit any particular exemptions as long as the facility or event can prove that 100% of the individuals in each approved indoor space have provided proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

Facilities and events should consult with legal counsel to determine policy compliance with any applicable federal, state, and local laws. Pitkin County Public Health cannot and will not review policies for such compliance and cannot provide legal advice to businesses, individuals, or other entities. Businesses, individuals, and event organizers are encouraged to consult with an attorney prior to developing their policies.

All approved fully vaccinated facilities and events are required to demonstrate the following two requirements:

1. A Written Policy Requiring Proof of Vaccination: Each facility and event must have a written policy requiring proof of vaccination for all individuals. If the facility or event permits exemptions, for example, because such exemptions are required by law or due to individuals not yet eligible for the vaccination (i.e. under 12), PCPH recommends that the policy explain the required documentation/information that an individual requesting the exemption must submit, how the facility or event evaluates the applicability of the exemption to that individual, and, if applicable, the unique considerations of the facility or event that require that facility or event to have such an exemption. While such detail is not required under the program, providing the detail about the exemption process may help the facility achieve the 100% requirement. In addition, the policy should address what actions the facility or event will take (for example, denial of entry) for individuals who refuse to comply with the policy.

100% of Individuals Indoors at that Facility or Event Have Provided Proof of Full Vaccination: The policy for each facility and event should result in 100% or nearly 100% of the individuals within the facility or event fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Each facility or event must have verified proof of full vaccination for 100% of all individuals within that facility or event. Facilities that expect that they may have a large number of individuals requesting exemptions should modify their policy, for example, by providing fully-masked hours of operation. Failure to comply with the 100% rule may result in the facility or event becoming ineligible for the program in violation of the Public Health Order.

Pursuant to the Pitkin County Public Health Order, proof of Vaccination means one of the below forms of documentation demonstrating receipt of one course of a single dose COVID-19 vaccine or two doses of any two-dose COVID-19 vaccine plus any subsequent or booster dose of a vaccine as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in accordance with the recommended timelines:

Facilities and events must verify proof of vaccination with one of the following methods:

1. COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or WHO Yellow Card) which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered); OR
2. A photo of a Vaccination Record Card as a separate document; OR
3. A photo of the individual’s Vaccination Record Card stored on a phone or electronic device; OR
4. Documentation of COVID-19 vaccination from a health care provider; OR
5. Digital record accessed through the myColorado application.

Pitkin County Public Health does not require any business, facility, or event to retain any of the identified forms of proof of vaccination records as a condition of this program. Facilities and events should retain records demonstrating compliance with their policy and program requirements.

While Pitkin County Public Health expects that facilities and events request to verify every individual’s vaccination status, PCPH recognizes that for some facilities and events, an exemption from the fully vaccinated requirement may be required by law, for example, pursuant to Title VII or the Americans with Disabilities Act, or because of ineligibility for the vaccine due to age. In this case, the facility or event may choose whether to admit unvaccinated individuals as long as unvaccinated individuals are masked in the indoor space. Facilities and events are advised to consult legal counsel about their legal obligations with respect to exemptions.

The program does not require any facility or event to provide exemptions to the proof of vaccination requirement. However, if a facility or event permits exemptions from the vaccination requirement then, regardless of the reason for the exemptions, the facility must require exempt individuals to wear a mask while indoors.

The program requires that you request proof of vaccination for all individuals. The program only permits the individuals within a facility to be unvaccinated and wearing a mask if they are ineligible for the vaccine (for example, under 12) or meet a medical or religious exemption.

Facilities and events may permit individuals who will not or cannot provide proof of vaccination in any outdoor setting (e.g. by seating unvaccinated customers outside) or providing certain hours during which any individual (including unvaccinated) may enter the facility as long as all individuals, including vaccinated individuals, are wearing a mask in compliance with the Pitkin County Public Health Order.

A negative test presented in lieu of proof of vaccination as part of a facility policy will not meet the requirements of the vaccine verification program.

Facilities and events may permit individuals who will not or cannot provide proof of vaccination in any outdoor setting (e.g. by seating unvaccinated customers outside) or providing certain hours during which any individual (including unvaccinated) may enter the facility as long as all individuals, including vaccinated individuals, are wearing a mask in compliance with the Pitkin County Public Health Order.

Facilities and events may permit children not yet eligible for the vaccine (currently, those under 5) indoors. The facility or event must still meet the requirement that 100% of attendees or individuals within the space have provided proof of vaccination. However, individuals not eligible for the vaccine and other exempt individuals must be required to wear a mask.

Fully Vaccinated Facilities should direct delivery personnel to leave deliveries outside to the extent practicable, and, to the extent such deliveries must be made inside, they should minimize interactions with individuals who have not provided proof of full vaccination. All individuals within the same enclosed area during delivery, repair, or maintenance activities must mask pursuant to the Pitkin County Public Health Order.

Once a facility or event is approved as a Fully Vaccinated Facility or Event, it must continue to implement its policy and verify proof of vaccination for all individuals entering its approved indoor space(s). The facility or event may allow individuals to enter the indoor space without a mask. 

Required Signs

Approved Facilities and Events must post a sign at the door(s) to their indoor spaces indicating that they are an approved vaccine verifying facility or event and that proof of vaccination is required to enter. See our communications resources page for downloadable versions of this signage as well as additional communications materials. 

A business falsely advertising that they have been approved by Pitkin County Public Health when they have not been approved is in violation of the Pitkin County Public Health Order.

Policy for Refusal to Show Proof of Vaccination

Facilities and businesses should include, as part of their policy development process, a policy for individuals who refuse to comply with that facility or event’s policy, including consequences, such as denial of entry. Pitkin County Public Health cannot provide legal advice to facilities or events.

Admitting an individual to your facility or event in violation of your policy will be considered a violation of the program terms and may result in becoming ineligible for the program.   

Unannounced Inspections

Facilities and events that have received approval for the program agree to unannounced inspections by Pitkin County Public Health.

Review of Vaccination Proof

This program is based on facility and event policies, not the vaccination status of any individual person, and as a general matter Pitkin County Public Health will not inquire into the vaccination status of an individual person for purposes of enforcement. However, Pitkin County Public Health may ask to review a facility’s or event’s policy implementation and tracking system to ensure compliance with their policy and program requirements.

Pitkin County Public Health may request information on the vaccination status of individuals for purposes of case investigation or contact tracing.

Program Status and CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker

The CDC’s Data Tracker offers an analysis of the transmission rate of COVID-19 for every county in the United States and provides a risk rating of low, moderate, substantial or high transmission. Masks are required in indoor spaces during periods of substantial and high transmission. An approved fully vaccinated facility or event is an exception to this requirement. 

Once transmission decreases to moderate or low levels for 21 consecutive days, masks will no longer be required in public indoor spaces. As a result, vaccination verification will no longer be required. However, it is strongly encouraged for businesses to continue requiring vaccination verification. If Pitkin County moves back into substantial or high transmission for five consecutive days, masks will be required in public indoor spaces and vaccination verification will be required in a facility or event seeking an exception. No-reapplication will be required if Pitkin County moves back into substantial or high transmission. 

Please visit the Pitkin County current status page to see the current transmission status according to the CDC Data Tracker.

• Increase air flow/ventilation
• Increase distancing
• Limit Capacity
• Symptom Screening
• Hand Hygiene
• Online Scheduling
• Encouraging individuals to stay home when sick
• Support people who want to wear masks