From the Public Health Director
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As we transition into fall and winter, it’s essential to prioritize our health, especially with the respiratory virus season upon us. This time of year often brings an increase in cases of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Paul Mayer, MD, Larimer County Department of Health and Environment’s Medical Officer, recently provided an overview and update on the upcoming respiratory virus season. View the recording here.
I’d like to recognize our Latine workforce during this Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), which recognizes and honors the histories, cultures, and people that make up the varied Hispanic communities in the United States. Their dedication enriches our organization every day.
Wishing you all good health,
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Fall in Colorado brings all kinds of good things: changing leaves, cooler weather, harvest festivals, pumpkin spice, community gatherings, and family fun like Halloween! You can take the following steps to safely enjoy your trick-or-treating experience:
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Eat only factory-wrapped treats. If you have any doubt about the safety of a treat, throw it out.
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Prepare your trick or treater with trick or treat safety items: a flashlight, reflective tape or strips applied to costumes and candy bags, and your contact information in case they get lost or separated from the group.
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Trick or treat as part of a large group with a responsible adult.
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Make sure costumes fit well to avoid blocked vision and help prevent trips and falls. Painting your face can be a fun alternative to wearing a mask.
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Walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. And be sure to look both ways before crossing the street.
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Children are curious and put all sorts of things in their mouths. Confusing medicine with candies can make Halloween go from spooky to scary. Practice safe medication storage.
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Halloween can be tricky for children with food allergies. Parents: always read labels (avoid treats without labels), carry an epinephrine auto-injector (if prescribed), and learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project®, an initiative to provide non-food treats, such as stickers, school supplies, and small toys, to kids with allergies.
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The Larimer County Department of Health is hosting five vaccination events throughout the month of October, with the last event taking place on November 9th. The clinics will be held in Loveland, Estes Park, and Fort Collins. Free back-to-school vaccines are available for children aged 4-18 who are uninsured, underinsured, or covered by Medicaid. Additionally, this year we are offering COVID-19 and flu vaccines for adults who are underinsured, uninsured or prefer to pay out of pocket. We will have both appointment-only dates and walk-in dates available for the public to choose from. We are excited to assist the community in meeting their vaccine needs and maintaining good health during the school year!
For more information on the exact times, pricing, and vaccines offered for these clinics please visit www.larimer.gov/immunizations
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Our October Las Charlas session covered topics such as tobacco prevention for parents of teens, mental health support options through SummitStone Health Partners, and creating a safer sleep environment for infants to reduce the risk of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS). Please feel free to view and share our latest session! We are excited to continue providing valuable information in Spanish for our community members.
The link for more information about Las Charlas and recordings of past sessions can be found here.
Nuestra sesión de Las Charlas de octubre abordó temas como la prevención del consumo de tabaco para padres de adolescentes, las opciones de apoyo para la salud mental a través de SummitStone Health Partners y la creación de un entorno de sueño más seguro para los bebés a fin de reducir el riesgo de síndrome de muerte súbita inexplicable del lactante (SUIDS). ¡No dude en ver y compartir nuestra última sesión! Estamos entusiasmados de seguir brindando información valiosa en español para los miembros de nuestra comunidad.
El enlace para nuestro chat de video y más información.
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One of our LCDHE teams presented at the annual Public Health in the Rockies conference in September.
Their presentation, entitled Locally Grounding Tobacco Prevention Efforts With BIPOC Communities: From Data Collection to Engagement, looked at how we can do better in giving more representation to our county demographic groups, both large and small. They worked with community groups throughout the county to address this question as it relates to tobacco prevention efforts and presented their findings to public health professionals from throughout the state.
Congratulations team, and thank you for your dedication to our mission of working to provide everyone in Larimer County the opportunity for a healthy life!
Pictured from left to right: Dominique Cain (Community Engagement Program Coordinator), Kimberly Baker (Health in All Policies Coordinator), Nina Wickens-Bhowmik (Population Epidemiologist), and Devontay Tobe (Health Equity Initiatives Coordinator).
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We recommend that everyone eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine get one soon. You can also get your flu shot at the same time! Protection against COVID-19 from earlier versions of the COVID-19 vaccine decreases over time after vaccination. With thirteen of twenty monitored wastewater treatment facilities in Colorado reporting a steady increase in detected COVID-19 viral activity, this is a good time to protect yourself and your family. Currently, The FDA has authorized the CDC approved updated 2024-2025 formulations of COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. These vaccines protect against currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Most pharmacies and provider offices are providing flu and COVID-19 vaccination at this time.
This page from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is continuously updated with information about where to find a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
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The Community Resilience Survey is now open for responses from anyone who lives, works, or plays in Larimer County! Your input will help the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management improve programs and services that assist the public before, during, and after emergencies such as the Alexander Mountain Fire.
Below are the English and Spanish surveys we will be seeking input until October 15, 2024.
To encourage participation, respondents can enter their email addresses for a chance to win one of three prizes!
- Prize 1: $50 Scheels Gift Card
- Prize 2: Emergency kit related item
- Prize 3: Emergency kit related item
¡La Encuesta de Resiliencia Comunitaria esta abierta para las respuestas de cualquier persona que vive, trabaja, o juega en el Condado de Larimer! Las respuestas de esta Encuesta de Resiliencia Comunitaria ayudaran a mejorar los programas y servicios de la Oficina de Manejo de Emergencias del Condado de Larimer que asisten al publico antes, durante y despues de emergencias como el Incendio de Alexander Mountain que afecto al Condado de Larimer.
Abajo estan las encuestas en Ingles y Espanol que estaremos solicitando hasta el 15 de octubre de 2024.
¡Para fomentar la participación en la encuesta, quienes respondan a esta Encuesta sobre Resiliencia Comunitaria pueden tener la oportunidad de ganar uno de tres premios!
- Premio 1: Tarjeta de regalo de $50 de Scheels
- Premio 2: Artículo relacionado con el kit de emergencia
- Premio 3: Artículo relacionado con el kit de emergencia
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