Posted November 12, 2020
Hello Hamilton Families & Community,
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) reports significant gaps in regular vaccinations, combined with the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the fall start of flu season creates a triple threat more concerning than the pandemic’s start in Spring 2020. This is a highly troubling trend.
The number of childhood and adolescent vaccines administered in Colorado dropped 19% during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the same period last year. This data confirms the concerns of pediatrics experts who believe the state is now vulnerable to devastating outbreaks of once-controlled diseases like measles.
In 2018, 11,000 kids were hospitalized or went to the ER in Colorado for a vaccine-preventable disease, and that was before a pandemic. It’s so critically important that families stay vigilant.
Initially, families stayed away from their doctor’s offices to have scheduled vaccination shots because of pandemic fears that shut down much of Colorado. Early in the pandemic, providers lacked the ability to properly sterilize in busy offices, causing fear of COVID-19 virus spread. For some families those concerns still linger; however, with proper cleaning guidelines from public health experts and the heroic efforts made by medical offices it is now safe to seek out care, including well child visits and immunizations.
Within Hamilton Middle School, ~32% (or about ⅓) of our student body is non-compliant with their immunizations. Over the next few weeks, if your student(s) show “non-compliant” for any of the following immunizations you will receive a letter from me (submitted exemptions being the exception).
Vaccine Name (# of doses need by middle school) – full name
DTaP (4-5 vaccines) – Diphtheria-tetanus & pertussis
Hep B (3 vaccines) – Hepatitis B
MMR (2 vaccines) – Measles, Mumps & Rubella
IPV (3-4 vaccines) – Polio
Tdap (1 vaccines) – Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Acellular Pertussis
Varicella (2 vaccines) – Varicella
There are several low/no cost resources available so your student is able to be immunized.
Some services available at Denver Health SBHC may include:
There is no charge to the patient or their family for services offered in the School-based Health Center. Patients will not have to pay co-pays, deductibles or fees to be seen. Insurance may be billed but without cost to families.
Please be sure to mail all immunization records to the school office or e-mail them to me at Cortney_Peters@dpsk12.org.
Stay safe and healthy,
Cortney Peters, BSN, RN
Hamilton School Nurse