The holidays are a time for gathering with loved ones and celebrating traditions. Unfortunately, it’s also a time for spreading respiratory viruses. As people travel and move gatherings inside during the colder months, diseases like flu, COVID, and RSV are transmitted at higher rates. Luckily, we have vaccines that protect us from all three! And when you get vaccinated against respiratory viruses, you’re not only protecting yourself – you’re also protecting the people around you. We keep ourselves and each other healthy with high immunization rates, which help reduce the spread of disease. Do you have a #PlanToProtect yourself, your loved ones, and your community this season? Read on to hear from some of our staff team and board members on why they get their respiratory virus vaccines.
My entire family gets vaccinated to stay healthy during the holiday break! This is the only time of the year we can all get together, so we want to be able to do fun things like sledding and snowshoeing – not be sick in bed with an avoidable disease.
Stephanie James, PhD, MBA, President, Immunize Colorado Board of Directors
I adore everything about the holidays – the food, the decorations, and spending quality time with loved ones! I don’t want myself or any of my friends and family to miss out on our favorite holiday traditions, so I make sure to get my flu and COVID vaccines to keep us all healthy. This year, my partner Jeremy and I have a new niece, and we want to protect her especially. She’s only 4 months old and still too young to get some vaccines, so she relies on everyone around her to be vaccinated to shield her from illness and keep her safe. Especially during the holidays when viruses like flu, COVID, and RSV are circulating, it’s important to keep vulnerable people – including older adults, people with weak immune systems, and young babies – protected. We love our niece so much and want to make sure she stays healthy so she can grow and thrive!
Emily Clancy, Communications Director
I got my flu and updated COVID vaccine (#7 for me!) to keep myself, my family, and my community members healthy. I know there are people in our community who are immunocompromised and need us – their community – to help them stay protected and healthy. Examples of people who are immunocompromised are babies who are too young for certain vaccines, elderly individuals, people who have cancer, people who take immunosuppressives after an organ transplant, and pregnant people. There are so many people in our community who need our help! I vaccinate to keep us all healthy 🙂
Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD, Immunize Colorado Board of Directors
My mother was born in 1926. She left this world in March 2008. I remember her sharing a childhood memory of riding in a wagon with my grandmother, my grandfather, and my mom’s dead baby brother in a shoe box. My grandmother had six children, but only three grew up to be adults. The pain of riding in the buggy with a dead baby brother three different times impacted how my mother thought about vaccinations. She made sure we were immunized so no child of hers would die from a preventable disease. I get vaccinated because of my mother. My hope is that this value has been passed down to my children so that when they have children, they will understand the importance of preventing disease and suffering. Traditions matter. Get up to date on your flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccinations. You are the greatest asset you will ever have. Protecting your life is the greatest holiday tradition!
Jeri Ajayi, Immunize Colorado Board of Directors
I have to take precautions to protect my lungs because I have a genetic condition that puts me at risk for lung disease. Since I’ve learned about this and seen what it’s done to my family members, I make sure to get a flu shot yearly and stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines. Getting these and other immunizations ensures that if I do contract a disease, I likely won’t get severely ill or require hospitalization. But it’s not just about me. Respiratory virus vaccines help reduce the amount of viral load we carry, so we’re less likely to transmit diseases to others. Protection—that’s one of the best gifts I think we can give over the holiday season and beyond!
Leann Springer, Communications Manager
I love spending time with family and old friends during the holiday season. Strengthening and reconnecting with our community is what makes this time of year special. But, as many of us know, nothing can disrupt these times faster than illness. That’s why I make sure our whole family is up-to-date on all recommended vaccines — to help protect our loved ones and keep the holiday spirit thriving!
David Higgins, MD, MPH, MS, Immunize Colorado Board of Directors
We hope you will join us in getting vaccinated against respiratory viruses this holiday season. It can take a few weeks for vaccines to offer full protection, so be sure to schedule your immunizations ahead of your holiday plans – however, it’s never too late to get vaccinated! The sooner you vaccinate, the sooner you can enjoy this time of year with the peace of mind that you are keeping yourself, your loved ones, and your community safe.
Make a #PlanToProtect against respiratory viruses by getting your flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines. Don’t forget to ask your provider if you should also receive an RSV vaccination. You can find vaccine clinics happening soon around Colorado by clicking here. In addition to getting vaccinated, you can cover your cough, wash your hands, and stay home when sick to lower the spread of disease in your community. Click here to find more information on how to stay healthy during respiratory virus season.
From everyone at Immunize Colorado, we wish you safe, healthy, and happy holidays!
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. Discover ways to support our commitment to healthy Colorado communities at our website or make a donation today!