Colorado, it’s time we had a serious talk. One in five of our state’s children is missing routine immunizations according to the latest data from Children’s Hospital Colorado. This is a problem! Our children deserve better. Vaccines are touted as the greatest achievement in the history of public health, but they only work if we choose to use them (and if enough of us use them to limit the spread of dangerous diseases). Let’s turn our attention today to measles specifically.

Measles, while eliminated in the United States in 2000, is still out there.

Measles, eliminated from the United States in 2000, is among the most dangerous of vaccine-preventable diseases, and it’s making a comeback. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate needs to be at 95% or above to adequately protect our communities. Data from the 2022 – 2023 school year shows the statewide kindergarten MMR vaccination rate to be well below that threshold at 86.8%. Globally, measles remains a threat. In fact, just last month a confirmed case of measles was identified in a teen who flew to Denver International Airport from overseas. While symptom monitoring of known contacts to this individual currently indicates it was contained and not further spread in the community, we can’t continue to rely on luck or chance. We’re only one plane ride away from a full on outbreak. 

The recent Colorado case of measles does not stand out as an anomaly. There is a current measles outbreak in Philadelphia, which may have spread to Delaware. Last year, Ohio saw an outbreak that led to 85 confirmed cases and spread to Kentucky. And in 2019, there were nearly 1,300 cases confirmed in 31 states, including Colorado. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before an outbreak makes its way back to our state. Let’s not go backwards!

Measles is so scary because it’s extremely contagious. 

Measles is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can live in the air for up to two hours. You don’t even have to be in the same room as an infected person to get measles. Simply touching an infected surface or breathing contaminated air is all it takes. It is so contagious that an infected person can spread it to up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals they contact. An infected person is contagious four days before and four days after they develop a rash that appears at the hairline and spreads down over the body. This typically happens 2-4 days after first developing a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

Measles is especially dangerous in young children – even those that are healthy.

Certain groups are at increased risk from severe complications from measles, especially young children under the age of five. Even otherwise healthy children can experience complications from infection. Severe complications include hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and even death.

Other groups at higher risk from measles complications include adults over 20 years of age, pregnant people, and people with compromised immune systems.

Here’s what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to measles or are experiencing symptoms.

Measles infection should be taken seriously, and you should contact your healthcare provider by phone rather than showing up at a healthcare facility in person if you suspect exposure or are experiencing symptoms. You should not go out into public settings unless you need medical treatment. If you need treatment, call ahead to alert the healthcare facility so they can help minimize the risk of exposure to others. 

Widespread use of the MMR vaccine is the best tool we have to prevent the spread of measles. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get two doses of MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. The first dose should be given between 12 and 15 months of age. The second dose should be given between 4 and 6 years of age. All other age groups, excluding those born prior to 1957 or those who have evidence of immunity, should also be vaccinated against measles. Colorado law requires students to have their second dose of MMR vaccine prior to entering kindergarten. 

The MMR vaccine is both very safe and effective. Once you get the MMR vaccine, you are protected for the rest of your life against measles. The bottom line is that measles is a preventable disease. Children deserve to attend schools and child care centers where they are not at risk from inadequately vaccinated children. All Colorado kids deserve to be protected!

Does your child need to get caught up with MMR or other routine vaccines? Schedule an appointment with their medical provider or contact your local public health agency to get them caught up and get your questions answered. It’s up to all of us to ensure a healthy Colorado!

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

Flu season has officially begun in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is tracking flu hospitalizations on the Colorado Viral Respiratory Disease Data Dashboard; since October 1, there have been 20 flu-related hospitalizations reported in the state. Last year’s flu season landed over 3,000 Coloradans in the hospital. In the U.S., flu causes millions of illnesses each year. These illnesses result in hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths. The good news? Flu is preventable with the annual flu vaccine. The best way to ensure you don’t become one of these statistics is to get your flu vaccine! 

This Team Vaccine Blog post is part two in a three-part series addressing vaccines for respiratory illnesses. Today, we share the importance of getting a flu vaccine. Our next blog in the series will shed light on new RSV vaccines and treatments. Look for it in the coming weeks.

Want the best protection against the flu? Get vaccinated by the end of October!

The CDC recommends everyone six months of age or older get vaccinated against flu by the end of October. This provides the best protection throughout the flu season, which typically lasts through the spring. If you miss getting the flu vaccine in October, you should still get vaccinated; late protection is better than none. Flu vaccines are available throughout the entire flu season. You can get them at your local pharmacy, local public health agency, doctor’s office, and more. You can even get your COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as your flu vaccine. Once you’re vaccinated, it will take two weeks for you to be fully protected.

Think the flu is no big deal or that kids aren’t at risk? Flu is serious even in healthy kids and adolescents. Ensure they’re protected!

Flu is no joke, and we shouldn’t take it lightly. Some people who catch the flu may experience only mild cold-like symptoms. Others will get severely ill. Even people who are otherwise healthy can become hospitalized or die from flu infection. Last year, those under age 18 experienced high hospitalization rates, and there were 154 flu deaths in children across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two of every three children hospitalized with flu had not been vaccinated. While those under six months of age and adults over 65 are at greatest risk for severe infection and complications, this does not mean other age groups are safe from the risk of severe illness. Additionally, schools and childcare centers offer prime opportunities for viruses to spread. When kids are vaccinated, we keep transmission down.

Pregnant? Your baby needs you to get the flu vaccine!

If you’re pregnant, you are at greater risk for complications, hospitalization, and even death if you catch the flu. Your body is working double time providing for both your and your child’s needs. With all the added demands of pregnancy, your immune system is not as strong. 

If you get infected with the flu, your likelihood of pregnancy complications increases. Preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects are some of the risks you take by not getting your flu vaccine. Plus, getting a flu vaccine during pregnancy provides passive immunity to your baby. This is important during the first six months of life when they’re too young to be vaccinated. Getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is not only safe, it’s essential for both of you!

Love your family and your community? Get vaccinated to stop the spread of flu and help protect them!

Your decision to get vaccinated against flu may be a personal choice, but it doesn’t end with you. When you’re vaccinated, you protect yourself from severe illness and you also help stop the spread of the virus to others. Flu is highly contagious and very common. Vulnerable people in our communities rely on us to help protect them. This includes infants under six months, adults over 65, people with chronic illness, and people with compromised immune systems. Each of us share a responsibility to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. It’s no different from being a safe driver on the road. 

Do your part this flu season. Get the flu vaccine!

Flu vaccines have been in use since 1945. They are extremely safe and cannot give you the flu. In addition to maintaining other healthy habits, they offer the best defense against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Help keep Colorado healthy and make the flu stop with you. Find flu and COVID-19 vaccine providers at bit.ly/FindCOVaxProvider. Have more questions about the flu? View our Flu Fact Sheet or speak to your medical provider for reliable answers.

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing, running from September 15 to October 15. During this time, we acknowledge and honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. In Colorado’s public health and immunization world, there is no one more deserving of this acknowledgement and honor than Julissa Soto. Soto is CEO and founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting. Her story is one of perseverance, love for her own Latino community, and love for all people. She has an unwavering determination to rattle the healthcare system until there is equitable access to healthcare for everyone. 

Soto has mounted an impressive list of interviews and news articles. She has been featured in local news and nationally on NPR and Time. Soto even gave a TEDx Mile High talk last June. The awards she’s received both locally and nationally are far too many to list. Most recently, she was given the prestigious 2023 Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) Immunization Champion Award. AIM selects honorees for each state who go above and beyond to promote vaccines in their communities. The boards and organizations in which she participates are also too many to list. Her work has helped vaccinate over 24,000 Latino people in Colorado who otherwise may have gone unvaccinated and unprotected from preventable diseases. What’s most commendable, though, is not the articles, awards, affiliations, or even the vaccines she’s helped get in arms. It’s the way Soto is changing the reach of healthcare in Colorado by facilitating a culturally affirming connection between un- and underserved communities and the healthcare system.

What does healthcare currently look like for Latinos in Colorado?

We’ve got work to do! Data shows that Latinos are behind in nearly all health metrics compared to whites, including vaccinations. Soto knows we’ve got to change the current model. What works for some does not work for all. As she says, “for the sake of our Latino children and their parents, we shouldn’t just be doing things the way we’ve always done them…We need to train health teams how to utilize cultural validation in a way that builds trust in health and opens access.” 

Fixing the problem. Whose responsibility is it?

As Soto sees it, healthcare is a human right, and unfortunately in the U.S., “having a pediatrician is a privilege.” She believes the onus to change is not on the community, but rather on those who hold the power within the system. She believes “advocating for the marginalized communities is a social responsibility even when it’s not profitable in the short term. Validating and respecting the culture but also educating through authentic community engagement is the only way to turn the negative equity direction around, our social responsibility in public health.”

What does changing healthcare look like to Soto?

Soto knows first-hand the inequities that exist in healthcare. She knows what it’s like to be lost in a system that expects people to come to it – with fear, with trauma, with language barriers, without trust, and without the knowledge and tools to navigate it. Her answer to making healthcare equitable: 

“[G]et into the community to build trust. After all, if Latinos aren’t utilizing primary care it’s because of mistrust and access. Going into the community, getting out from behind that intimidating barrier of the table that dulls interaction with people, and meeting and greeting community authentically, showing genuine interest, and caring, that’s what changes mistrust into trust and opens doors of access. It’s the only real way to do so.”

Soto herself brings healthcare to churches by hosting Vaccine Sundays. She’s brought healthcare to schools through the One School, One Vaccine at a Time (Una Escuela, Una Vacuna a la Vez) initiative in partnership with Immunize Colorado. She’s even hosted clinics at carnicerías, or meat markets. Whenever she hosts a clinic, it is at a time and a place that is convenient for the community. Food and fun are mandatory elements of cultural validation, a practice Soto recognizes as a way to build trust between people and the healthcare system. At her clinics, you’ll find face painting, balloons, and superhero costumes along with enchiladas, frijoles, y arroz (beans and rice). As she says, “for the sake of our Latino children and their parents, we shouldn’t just be doing things the way we’ve always done them.”

Soto’s work will not only transform healthcare, it will transform our communities. 

Soto is closing the gap between healthcare and the Latino community. The health inequities faced by Latinos are complex. They have implications far beyond healthcare and impact our  education system, our environment, our economy, and more. Soto’s work to facilitate meaningful connections and build trust between Latinos and our healthcare system will also impact these other pillars of our community–one person at a time.

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to prevent protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

It’s beginning to look a lot like fall in Colorado. With the changing of leaves and cooler temperatures comes an increase in viral illnesses. Last year’s tripledemic of COVID-19, flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) brought hospitals to capacity and challenged healthcare system resources statewide. From October 2022 to May 2023, there were 3,076 flu hospitalizations and 8,231 COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). During the same period, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) RSV-NET showed 50 RSV hospitalizations per 100,000 individuals in the state. This breaks down to 2,906 RSV hospitalizations for Colorado’s 5.812 million population. This year though, the game has changed. We have more tools and knowledge than ever to protect ourselves, those we love, and everyone else in our communities! 

Today’s Team Vaccine Blog post is part one of a three-part series. It breaks down what you need to know about the updated COVID-19 vaccines. We’ll also shed light on the importance of staying vaccinated. In addition, we’ll correct some of the misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines. Stay tuned! In the coming weeks, we’ll publish parts two and three and dive into the latest on flu vaccination and new vaccines and treatments for RSV.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines: Why do we need them? Who should get them?

As viruses circulate, they mutate to form new variants. Over the last three years, the virus that causes COVID-19 has changed a lot. The old vaccines match old variants. Now we have updated vaccines for better protection against the newest variants. This is much like the flu vaccine we get each year. You can even get both an updated COVID-19 vaccine and your flu vaccine at the same time. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are for everyone six months of age and up. 

When should I get the updated vaccine?

The short answer is ASAP. Don’t wait and put yourself at risk! Cases of COVID-19 are up in Colorado and across the U.S., and protection for most people has likely waned by now. Of course, this depends on the timing of your most recent vaccine and whether you’ve had a recent infection. But remember, the old vaccines don’t offer the same level of protection. The updated vaccines offer the best defense against COVID-19. 

There is additional guidance for specific populations who may need increased protection. If you are immunocompromised, you can get another vaccine two months after receiving the updated vaccine. If you’re over age 65, you can get an additional dose after four months.

Will I have to pay for the updated vaccine?

You should not have to pay for the updated COVID-19 vaccine. While COVID-19 vaccines are no longer paid for by the federal government, insurance will cover their full cost. The federal Bridge Access and Vaccines for Children programs will provide them at no cost for underinsured and uninsured individuals. 

Don’t let kids go unprotected!

COVID-19 infection in kids is sometimes downplayed. The truth is COVID-19 infection can be severe and have lasting implications on kids’ health. It’s not like the common cold! Over half of kids hospitalized for COVID-19 do not have a preexisting condition that would put them at greater risk for severe illness. According to the latest Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Report from Children’s Hospital Colorado from 2020 to 2021, COVID-19 was a leading cause of death in children. There’s also the risk of post-COVID multisystem inflammatory syndrome or MIS-C. While this is rare, MIS-C is serious and can even be deadly. It can occur between two and six weeks after a child is infected with COVID-19. MIS-C can cause fever, rashes, red eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting. Unvaccinated kids can needlessly spread viruses in schools and other places where they have contact with others. It’s essential to keep students, faculty, and staff protected to avoid time away from school due to illness, and to ultimately avoid outbreaks that could warrant quarantines. 

It’s also worth mentioning that infants, who are not eligible for vaccination have the highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations after adults over age 75. They need the rest of us to be vaccinated to protect them! 

COVID-19 vaccines and misinformation – let’s look at some facts.

While we continue to learn about COVID-19, there is a lot we do know about COVID-19 vaccines. There has been concern that vaccines were developed quickly and rushed to the market, and that there were shortcuts in testing for safety. The truth is that the technology used to create them has been in development for years. COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated vaccines and all other vaccines, are carefully tested and are continuously monitored for safety. 

Some of the most common pieces of misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines include myths about myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart. Contrary to some information shared online, myocarditis is not a reason to not get vaccinated against COVID-19. The risk of myocarditis is much greater from COVID-19 infection than from vaccination. According to the American Heart Association, “people infected with COVID-19 before receiving a vaccine were 11 times more at risk for developing myocarditis within 28 days of testing positive for the virus. But that risk was cut in half if a person was infected after receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.” Rare instances of myocarditis have occurred in teens and young adults following COVID-19 vaccination. However, these cases are mild and symptoms resolve within a few days.

Give yourself, those you love, and your whole community the best protection from COVID-19 during this respiratory virus season.

In 2023, we have tools to protect ourselves and others that we’ve never had before. Each day, we are learning more about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the long-term effects it has on us, and treatments to fight it. With this knowledge we have the responsibility to protect ourselves, those we love, and everyone else in our community. This means staying vaccinated. Schedule your updated COVID-19 vaccine today!

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to prevent protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

 

Written by Leann Springer, communications manager at Immunize Colorado

In my role as communications manager at Immunize Colorado, I’ve learned a lot about vaccines. Routine childhood vaccines play an essential role in the health of children and our entire community. Diseases once common are now rare – that’s thanks to vaccines! We are lucky to live in a time when our children have access to one of the safest health interventions available. The following is a personal story about why vaccines are important to me and my family.

In 2004, my husband and I were expecting twin boys. While we were elated, we knew twins were going to be a challenge. Adding to the challenge, we had a nearly two-year-old toddler. That winter, I was put on partial bed rest. This is not uncommon. Moms of multiples are at greater risk for pregnancy complications. Things got more serious in April when I attended a routine doctor appointment. He took one look at me and told me, “Do not pass go. Go immediately to the hospital.” I was preeclamptic. The pregnancy had become dangerous for both me and the babies. Having preeclampsia, if untreated, can lead to shock or death. After five days in the hospital, I required an emergency C-section. We were lucky! All of us made it through the pregnancy. (My husband would like for me to state that he too made it through the pregnancy. It was a scary time!) That said, the boys were six weeks premature. They were required to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU. 

Our stay at the hospital was not a day or two like a typical birth. It was weeks. My parents traveled across the state to help with the care of our oldest son. The three of them went back and forth between our home in rural Garfield County to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. As an active toddler, keeping our oldest off the hospital floor was hard. Imagine all the germs! Inevitably, he became ill and was diagnosed with rotavirus just a few days after the twins’ birth. I’ll omit all the gross details, but rotavirus is simply not fun. He was sick, so sick, and had to be monitored for dehydration! Unfortunately, this was nearly two years before the rotavirus vaccine became available. My husband and I also got sick. We had to quarantine for several days to keep both of our boys and every other infant in the NICU safe. Not seeing them during that time was awful! Diseases like rotavirus can be deadly to infants, particularly preterm infants and those born with other health complications that need NICU care. 

It was a difficult time even after we recovered from rotavirus and were able to see our boys again. There were a myriad of tubes and cords connected to them. I wanted to start nursing them, but they had to be tube fed. Every drop of specialty formula they ingested mattered profoundly toward their weight gain. Their tiny bodies, head to toe, didn’t even take up the space from the palm of my hand to the end of my forearm. They floated in newborn onesies like oversized t-shirts. They were put on oxygen immediately after their birth, and we became obsessed with their oxygen saturation levels, fearful of any dip. 

Eventually, both boys were released from NICU care and sent home where they continued to need supplemental oxygen. Though we were all home together, we weren’t out of the woods. They would remain at greater risk from complications from illnesses for quite some time. It seemed, throughout preschool and elementary school, a common cold would hit them harder and last longer than it would with their peers. 

Routine childhood vaccines were crucial in protecting our boys. I lament that the rotavirus vaccine was not available at the time of their birth. I imagine how much easier those early days could have been if our oldest was protected by it. I also know that the routine childhood vaccines they did get helped them become the healthy adults they are today. For infants too young to receive routine vaccines – especially premature infants – vaccines are critical to ensuring their health and ability to thrive!  

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

You’ve probably noticed the inevitable annual July takeover of school supplies in the aisles of your local grocery and big box stores. Bins of pencils, crayons, and glue indicate that summer’s end is coming. Before you put your child back on the school bus, make sure they’re protected with routine vaccines! Vaccines may not be at the top of your list of back-to-school priorities; it’s a busy time with lots of competing tasks demanding your attention. But as a parent, protecting your child’s health is likely one of your most important concerns.

Public spaces, like schools, are prime environments to spread diseases.

It’s a fact that schools are prime environments for the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s also true that uptake of routine childhood vaccines is down. Nationally, the CDC estimates that at least 250,000 kindergartners in the 2021-2022 school year were not adequately vaccinated for measles. Coverage for other routine vaccines is down as well. Sadly, data from the same school year show that only 46% of Colorado students attended a school with adequate protection from vaccine-preventable disease. Uptake for all school-required vaccines has declined statewide. It’s important to have high vaccination rates in community environments like schools and other public spaces. Otherwise, we leave the door open for germs and diseases to be transmitted and put kids at risk.

Vaccine-preventable diseases can be serious or even deadly.

It’s also a fact that the diseases we vaccinate for should not be taken lightly. Vaccine-preventable diseases are no joke! Many vaccine-preventable diseases are more serious than the common cold and can have life-altering and permanent outcomes including hospitalization and death. Globally, vaccines save more than 4 million lives each year, according to the CDC. In Colorado, vaccines prevent more than 8,600 hospitalizations among kids each year. Vaccines help keep kids healthy and prevent school absences and time missed learning. They also keep parents from having to call off work to care for their kids. 

It’s not as simple as one person’s or one family’s choice.

Another fact: vaccines affect the health of our communities (like the one at your child’s school); the impact is greater than one person’s or family’s choice. When you choose to have your child and family vaccinated, you’re protecting the health of everyone they contact. Conversely, when you choose not to vaccinate your child or family, you put others at risk. Vaccines are only truly effective when we have enough people in a community to prevent disease spread. We need roughly 95% of people in a school community to be vaccinated (for each school-required vaccine) to make sure students, staff, and faculty are well protected. 

All Colorado kids deserve the opportunity to learn and thrive.

Schools have an obligation to keep kids healthy and safe so they can learn and thrive. School vaccine requirements help ensure that health and safety. In Colorado, children attending school are required by law to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Children attending pre-school are also required to be vaccinated against pneumonia and haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). While not required by law, it is also highly recommended that kids get an annual flu vaccine and stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. Teens should get HPV and meningitis vaccines, too. Your child, along with all other Colorado kids, deserves to start the school year right and be ready with routine vaccines!

For more information about Colorado school vaccine requirements, visit our website. You can also learn about which vaccines are required for college students, how to access your child’s vaccine record, and more.

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

If you’re the parent of a recent high school graduate, you may be in the throes of your child’s transition to college. Your child is likely ready to pack up their bedroom for the cramped quarters of dorm life, chatting with their soon-to-be roommate, and you both are probably volleying between the excitement and anxiety that comes with this new chapter. But before the bitter-sweet farewell amid the campus chaos, we have to ask, are they fully protected against meningitis? There just might be one more thing you need to add to your already full to-do list, but it could save your child’s life!

It takes TWO different vaccines to be fully protected from meningococcal meningitis.

Your child has likely already been given the two-dose MenACWY vaccine which is typically started around 11 years of age and helps protect against meningococcal meningitis. At that age, they’ll likely have also gotten the Tdap and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines which protect against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, and certain types of cancers caused by HPV. But many parents are not aware that it takes two types of vaccines to protect against meningococcal meningitis. The MenB vaccine, which is also a two-dose series and is given starting at age 16, is less known to parents and many providers don’t recommend it due to the disease’s rare occurrence. However, according to the Meningitis B Action Project, meningitis B makes up 70% of all meningococcal disease in 16-23-year-olds, and “meningitis B has been responsible for all US college outbreaks of meningococcal disease since 2011.”

What is meningococcal meningitis and how is it spread?

Before we go further, let’s look at what meningococcal disease is and how it spreads. Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but very serious bacterial infection that causes swelling of the protective membranes, or meninges, that cover the brain and spinal cord. It is caused mainly by the A, B, C, W, and Y types of meningococcal bacteria. While meningitis can also result from a viral infection, bacterial meningitis, while rarer, is much more serious and the onset of symptoms is more sudden. In fact, it can become deadly within hours of infection. 

The Meningitis B Action Project notes, “Meningococcal meningitis is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in adolescents and young adults.” Being in close proximity to others is a risk factor for catching meningococcal meningitis, so college students who live in dorms or other close quarters are at increased risk. It is very contagious and is spread through saliva from sharing drinks, kissing, or coming into contact with respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. While adolescents and young adults are most at risk, anyone can get meningococcal meningitis. 

What are the symptoms of meningococcal meningitis?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include fever, headache, and neck stiffness as the most common symptoms of meningococcal meningitis. At first, these symptoms might be easily mistaken for the flu (which is also a serious disease). Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis can also include nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, and altered mental state or confusion. Another common symptom is a dark purple rash which is an indication that the disease has gotten worse and is infecting the bloodstream. This is called meningococcal septicemia. Complications from meningococcal meningitis can include brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and limb loss. Remember, the disease moves quickly and can become deadly within hours, so it is important to immediately seek medical attention if you develop symptoms of meningococcal meningitis!

Not worth the risk: parents whose children have had meningococcal meningitis encourage others to get their kids vaccinated.

Colorado parent Connie Ingram shared her son’s battle with meningococcal meningitis during an Immunize Colorado webinar titled “A Parent’s Perspective on Meningitis Awareness and Vaccination.” Ingram’s son, Jackson, became ill and unresponsive in the fall of 2017 when he returned home from college for the Thanksgiving holiday. He was transported to the hospital where doctors fought to keep him alive for several days. Once he was released, he had several months of recovery dealing with weakness, headaches, and slowed cognitive functioning. Jackson is lucky to be alive. Like many other parents, Ingram had Jackson vaccinated against meningitis, but only for the A, C, W, and Y strains of meningitis bacteria. Ingram was not aware there was a vaccine for meningitis B.

In 2007, Sierra Krizman, a 20-year-old aspiring elementary teacher, became ill with flu-like symptoms on the morning of Easter. Within 24 hours she was placed on a ventilator and within another day she died from meningococcal meningitis. Sierra’s father Jon Krizman recounts his final moments with his daughter, “Sierra’s last words were ‘Daddy am I going to be okay?’ and my response was a concerned ‘yes.’ I was scared to death because she looked so sick but as her daddy I wanted her to feel comforted. We were terrified, the ER doctors were grasping at straws, and I could see their concern and knew they were at a loss.”

Ingram now advocates for meningitis B awareness and Krizman and his wife, Lisa, began Sierra’s Race Against Meningitis, an annual 5K Run/Walk that provides education and testimonials, and offers the opportunity for community members to be vaccinated with both types of meningococcal vaccines. They along with many other parents and individuals urge parents to protect their children from this deadly preventable disease with both meningococcal vaccines. As Ingram recounted, “When your child is ill, how uncommon it is doesn’t matter. A friend’s pediatrician told her that her son didn’t really need the MenB vaccine before college because it’s so rare. She told him about my son’s experience and the pediatrician asked, ‘Did he survive?’” Ensure your child isn’t faced with “surviving.” Ensure they’re set up to thrive by getting vaccinated with BOTH meningococcal meningitis vaccines before they head off to college this fall!

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!

As the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 ends and vaccine misinformation continues to spread, we bring your attention today to the topic of school immunizations. Diseases like measles and chickenpox spread easily in schools where students are in proximity to one another. These diseases can be dangerous and even deadly. That’s why Colorado, and all other U.S. states, require that students get certain vaccines to attend school and child care. Vaccines are an essential part of keeping kids safe, healthy, and ready to learn in school! They also help protect the health of those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions or because they are too young. Read on to learn about Colorado’s school entry requirements and the tools Immunize Colorado has to help parents and school staff understand the level of vaccine protection in their school community.

What are the immunization requirements for schools and child care facilities in Colorado?

Colorado Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009-2 requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child care centers to be vaccinated against certain diseases (including hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella) or to obtain an exemption, which requires consultation with a doctor or the completion of an online training module. 

In October, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to add COVID-19 vaccinations to the routine childhood immunization schedule. Contrary to some news headlines, this does not mean that COVID-19 vaccines are mandatory for school entry. Each state individually decides which immunizations are required for school attendance. In Colorado, COVID-19 vaccines, though highly recommended for everyone 6 months and up, are not required immunizations for school or childcare entry. Flu and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are also not required for entry.

What does vaccine coverage look like in Colorado schools?

Each year, Immunize Colorado publishes the Immunity Community Honor Roll to recognize Colorado school districts that achieve exceptional vaccination coverage. We also publish fact sheets which summarize school- and child care-level vaccination rates by county and school district. These tools help parents and school staff understand their community’s level of protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Schools on the Honor Roll, given “Gold Star” status, have immunization rates that meet Healthy People 2030 goals. These include coverage at 95% or higher for DTaP, HepB, MMR, Polio, and Varicella. Schools with 6th grade and higher must also have 80% coverage for Tdap. During the 2021-22 school year, only 32 Colorado school districts (out of 182) and only 37% of all schools achieved Gold Star status and made the Immunity Community Honor Roll. This means that less than half (46%) of Colorado students attend a school with adequate protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment show that vaccination rates for K-12 students declined for all school-required vaccines in 2021-22.

Why are high immunization rates important for schools and child care centers?

Schools have an obligation to keep kids safe and ensure their ability to learn. This means keeping kids healthy. It’s easy to think that many of the diseases vaccines prevent are a thing of the past. (Thanks, vaccines!) But the truth is vaccine-preventable diseases can spread rapidly in the school environment and it only takes a few gaps in vaccine coverage to cause an outbreak. 

In December, gaps in MMR vaccine coverage led to over 80 children contracting measles in Ohio. Measles is an extremely contagious disease. In fact, an infected person can spread it to up to 90% of the people they come into contact with. According to the CDC, the measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, meaning you don’t even have to be in the same room as an infected individual to get it. Measles can also be extremely dangerous, causing “encephalitis (swelling of the brain) that can lead to convulsions and can leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability,” according to the CDC. Measles was eliminated in the United States in 2000, but due to low vaccination rates, it’s making a comeback. More worrisome is that data released in January show that at least 250,000 kindergartners in the U.S. are not protected against measles. 

This scenario is not unique to measles. Rockland County, New York saw the resurgence of polio last summer. Vaccination rates for all routine vaccines are lagging in Colorado and across the nation. Vaccine-preventable diseases should not be a threat to our school children and communities in the year 2023. Vaccines have been hailed as one of the top public health achievements of all time. In Colorado, vaccines prevent over 8,600 hospitalizations among children each year. Worldwide, vaccines prevent 4-5 million deaths each year. Vaccines are safe! They are rigorously tested and continuously monitored for safety; in fact, they’re one of the most closely-monitored products we have. We need vaccines so that our children and our communities can thrive!

In Colorado, we can all play a role in protecting schools and communities from disease. Help ensure Colorado schools are a safe place for all students, staff, and faculty by following the recommended routine vaccine schedules, and if you have questions, speak to your child’s medical provider.

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. You can donate or discover other ways to get involved in supporting our commitment to healthy Colorado communities today!