Last updated October 18, 2022.
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Your job, employer, or college/university may require you to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to go to work or school.
Find out where you can get vaccinated
The information provided on this webpage does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this page are for general informational purposes only.
Vaccine requirements for:
State employees
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State took the steps necessary to protect our workforce and the communities we serve. These steps included requiring vaccines or testing in response to the public health emergency. Due to widespread uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, the availability of effective therapeutics, and the accrual of high rates of vaccine and infection-induced immunity at the population level in the United States, on August 15, 2022, the Statewide COVID-19 Vaccination and Serial Testing Requirements Universal Policy for State employees was repealed. State agencies will determine whether to implement their own policies and requirements on this matter. Any policies and requirements adopted at the State agency-level must be in compliance with Public Health Order 20-38 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s guidance issued July 12, 2022.
Federal employees
President Biden signed an Executive Order on September 9, 2021 requiring all federal executive branch employees to be vaccinated; however, this order has been stayed by a nationwide injunction and is not currently being enforced. Another Executive Order requires vaccination of all federal contractors, and this order is also enjoined and is not currently being enforced.
Staff at health care facilities and hospitals
The federal government requires COVID-19 vaccination for staff within Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities in Colorado.
The State Board of Health opted to let the emergency rule requiring all other health care workers to get vaccinated expire July 14, 2022. As of June 14, 2022, 94% of all required health care workers are vaccinated with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The Board of Health determined the requirement did not need to be extended due to these high vaccination rates among health care workers.
Colleges and universities
Some colleges and universities have instituted COVID-19 vaccine requirements for students, faculty, and staff. Certain schools may require students, faculty, and staff to receive third (booster) doses in addition to the primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Contact your school for more information about whether COVID-19 vaccination is required.
The official Colorado Certificate of Medical Exemption and Colorado Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption do not include COVID-19 vaccines because the state does not require this vaccine for school entry. These official certificates of exemption are meant to capture information about vaccines required by the Colorado Board of Health for school entry. Individuals with questions about allowable vaccine exemptions should contact their college/university directly for additional guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not apply to businesses like retail stores and restaurants because these businesses do not engage in any form of health care activity. It is not a violation of any federal or state law for a business to ask customers about their vaccination status. Customers may voluntarily share this information with a business if they choose to do so. A business may require public health measures (e.g. mask-wearing) if a customer chooses not to share their vaccination status.
The state public health department, which maintains the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS), does not share a person’s protected health information, such as their COVID-19 vaccination status, with any business. Individuals may choose whether to share their vaccination status with others.
Employees who work for employers requiring COVID-19 vaccination and who wish to exercise an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine should talk to their human resources office about acceptable exemption forms. The state’s standard certificates of medical and nonmedical exemption only address vaccines required by state Board of Health rules for school entry; they do not address the COVID-19 vaccine because the state has not required this vaccine for school entry.
Employees may be entitled to an exemption through the ADA and Civil Rights Act of 1964. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission has more information on their website.
Yes, they can. Ask your college or university if you have questions about their COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
If you got the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado, you can get your immunization record through the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) Public Portal. If you have difficulty finding your record, please review this guidance document.
Alternatively, if you got the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado and have a Colorado ID, you can find a digital version of your COVID-19 immunization card through myVaccine Record on the myColorado mobile app.
If you got your COVID-19 vaccination(s) outside of Colorado, please contact your vaccination provider or the immunization information system of the state in which you received your COVID-19 to request a copy of your records.
Have other questions about COVID-19 vaccines? Visit our vaccine FAQ.