City and County of Denver, CO

09/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2024 12:15

DDPHE Blog: Stay Healthy and Spook-tacularly Safe This Fall

DDPHE Blog: Stay Healthy and Spook-tacularly Safe This Fall

Published on September 23, 2024

Frighteningly Good Advice: Stay Healthy and Spook-tacularly Safe This Fall

Fall in Denver brings all kinds of good things: changing leaves, cooler weather, harvest festivals, pumpkin spice, and fun family and community gatherings, including Halloween and Thanksgiving. As the witching hour approaches and the streets fill with little monsters and mummies, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) reminds our Denver community to take the following steps to safely enjoy all types of fun this fall.

Stay home if you're sick.

If you or anyone in your home isn't feeling well, postpone your plans until you feel better. Even if you only have mild symptoms, you could still get someone else sick, and that illness may be severe for them. Contact a health care provider if you experience new symptoms of an illness or your symptoms get worse.

Get vaccinated for respiratory viruses.

Respiratory infections can greatly disrupt our lives, even for those who aren't at risk for severe disease. Avoid the horror of getting sick by making sure you're up to date with your flu shot and other recommended vaccines. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine and an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. This fall routine can reduce the risk of serious illness, especially for those most at risk, including young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those who are pregnant.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but it can be serious in infants, young children, and older adults. RSV immunizations are recommended for three groups - older adults, those who are pregnant, and infants and some young children. Talk with your health care provider about your or your child's risk for severe RSV and the potential benefits of immunization against RSV.

Most health insurers (including Medicaid, Medicare, CHP+, and private insurance) cover the full cost of flu, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations, so you don't have to pay anything at providers that accept your health plan. Even without health insurance, you can still get flu, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations at low or no-cost at hundreds of locations statewide, including Denver. DDPHE is committed to making vaccines accessible and readily available in the community. Check the online schedule to find an upcoming immunization clinic.

You can get flu, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations during the same visit.

Stay up to date on all recommended vaccines.

During 2024, there have been increases in cases of several preventable diseases. For example, there have been four times as many cases of measles in the U.S. this year than in 2023. Measles is making a return because fewer people are getting vaccinated. Measles spreads easily and can cause life-long problems like hearing loss and brain damage. If one person has it, up to nine out of 10 people who are unprotected around them will get measles. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way to keep safe from measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. It has been given to billions of kids around the world for more than six decades. To keep measles out of Colorado, it's important for families to get themselves and their children vaccinated. For more information, visit MightierThanMeasles.com.

Individuals with a high risk for exposure to mpox should receive a vaccine called Jynneos. Many providers across Denver offer free mpox vaccines for people who are uninsured or underinsured. No ID, insurance, or out-of-pocket payment is needed to get vaccinated at clinics where free vaccines are available. If you are concerned about your risk for mpox, talk with your health care provider.

Reduce risk by practicingharm reduction strategies.

Keep naloxone and fentanyl test strips on you in case you need them. You can learn more about keeping yourself and your friends safe by visiting the Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention's campaign Keep the Party Safe. Do not use substances alone. If you do use alone, you can call the Never Use Alone hotline at 800-484-3731 to ensure someone can respond if you experience an emergency. To learn more about harm reduction strategies to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, visit the National Harm Reduction Coalition.

You can save a life by using naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that quickly and safely reverses opioid overdoses. It will not hurt someone even if their symptoms are not caused by an opioid. Anyone can carry naloxone and access it at a pharmacy or request supplies through DDPHE. DDPHE is only able to fulfill requests from residents of the City and County of Denver. Delivery of naloxone and fentanyl test strips can take up to two weeks. If you reside in Denver and do not have an address where you can receive mail, please visit Wellness Winnie to obtain these resources.

If you need an immediate supply of naloxone, or if you live in Colorado but outside of Denver, visit stoptheclockcolorado.org to explore an interactive map of locations where naloxone can be found. Naloxone is available without a prescription and is often covered by medical insurance plans.

If you are seeking test strips and live in Colorado outside of Denver, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment's list of syringe access programs by location. You can also purchase them at dancesafe.org regardless of your location.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has been found in many drugs in Colorado. Fentanyl test strips are a fast, inexpensive, and easy way to test for fentanyl. Test strips can help you find out if a drug has fentanyl in it, but not how much, so it is still important to be cautious. Free testing strips can be requested through DDPHE. DDPHE is only able to fulfill requests from residents of the City and County of Denver. Due to distribution delays, delivery of naloxone and fentanyl test strips is taking several weeks. If you reside in Denver and do not have an address where you can receive mail, please visit Wellness Winnie to obtain these resources.

Stay safe, have a boo-tiful fall, and let's keep the ghouls and goblins in the costumes, not in our health! DDPHE continues to urge everyone to be mindful and take precautions when going about their fall and winter routines: practice good hand hygiene habits, and if you feel sick, stay home and get tested.