Health Department Encourages Residents to Take Steps to Prevent Respiratory Viruses
The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE) is encouraging everyone to take steps to stay healthy this fall and winter, including getting vaccinated against influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), if eligible.
These viruses, while different, share the potential for severe illness, hospitalization, and in rare cases, death. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Viral Respiratory Disease Dashboard, there have been 215 hospitalizations for viral respiratory diseases in Colorado in October, the majority being for COVID-19.
Respiratory Virus Season Outlook:
LCDHE’s Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, Matt Bauer, says trends from other parts of the world may offer clues about what Colorado could experience this season.
“In Japan, flu arrived about five weeks earlier than usual and has spread widely, with far more cases than in recent years, resulting in over one hundred school closures throughout the country,” Bauer said.
Countries in the southern hemisphere, like Australia and New Zealand, also give an early look at what might be ahead for the U.S. Their flu seasons run from May through October, and both have reported much higher-than-normal levels of illness this year. Australia, for example, has reported more than 410,000 lab-confirmed flu cases, surpassing last year’s record.
Vaccine Recommendations:
Vaccination is safe and effective for preventing severe illness and hospitalization against common respiratory viruses. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations are widely available at pharmacies, clinics, and primary-care offices, and most insurance companies cover the costs.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for everyone aged six months and older. A statewide standing order that took effect in September allows all eligible Coloradans to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies and other authorized sites without a separate physician prescription.
RSV vaccines are recommended for adults 75 years and older, those with underlying conditions, and pregnant people during weeks 32-36 of pregnancy.
Infants entering their first winter also need protection against RSV infection. If protection wasn’t provided during weeks 32-36 of pregnancy, infants are recommended to receive an immunizing injection during RSV season (October through March).
Dr. Paul Mayer, Larimer County’s Medical Officer suggests, “Now is the time to start thinking about the steps to take to do your best to stay healthy and stop the spread of respiratory viruses throughout our schools, workplaces, and community. Vaccination remains one of the best tools we have to decrease the risk of becoming severely ill, hospitalized or even dying from these common diseases.”
Help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:
Get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
Practice good hygiene and wash your hands often with soap and water.
Stay home when sick for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your shirt sleeve.
Consider wearing a well fitting mask. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
Get plenty of rest.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
LCDHE clinics currently provide flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines only to eligible children and a limited number of adults who meet specific criteria. Please visit www.larimer.gov/vaccines or call the clinics for more information or to schedule an appointment: (970) 498-6700.
For more information on staying healthy this season, visit www.larimer.gov/stayhealthy. Colorado data on respiratory viruses can be found here: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/viral-respiratory-diseases-report
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