Adams County CoVid-19 Response and Recovery

Denver Metro Area Public Health Officials Urge Parents to Make Sure Kindergarteners are Up-to-Date on Vaccinations

Archive
Posted on: August 7, 2019

Vaccination Critical to Keep Measles Out of Colorado

Denver, Colo. — In the midst of the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in nearly three decades, public health officials representing Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties are calling on parents and caregivers to keep measles out of Colorado by making sure kindergartners are vaccinated before school starts.
 
Colorado’s 2018-2019 rate for the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine among kindergartners was 87.4 percent, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). In the Denver Metro region, the rate was 89.1 percent. Neither is high enough to protect communities from a measles outbreak.
 
“These MMR rates need to be higher to ensure measles does not spread across the Denver Metro Area,” said Dr. John M. Douglas, Jr., Executive Director at Tri-County Health Department. “Add to that having problems with pockets of children or adults with even lower vaccination rates. That’s the recipe for an outbreak to begin and exactly what has happened in other states during 2019.”
 
Kids need two doses of measles-containing vaccine, one at 12-15 months and a second at 4-6 years, to be protected. The second dose is required before kindergarten entry in Colorado.
 
“The measles vaccine is safe — and it works,” said Judy Shlay, MD, Associate Director of Denver Public Health. “Measles can be a very serious illness and is a public safety issue. It’s up to all of us to create immunity in our communities and protect others who can’t be vaccinated.”
 
There is room for improvement to get more kindergartners vaccinated. In the Denver Metro Area, kindergarten vaccination coverage rates for MMR for the 2018-2019 school year are:
  • Adams: 94.1 percent
  • Arapahoe: 90.5 percent
  • Denver: 85 percent
  • Douglas: 86.4 percent
  • Jefferson: 90.1 percent
“A new school year already brings lots of emotions for parents, especially those who are sending their little ones off to school for the first time,” said Dr. Margaret J. Huffman, Director of Community Health Services at Jefferson County Public Health. “The last thing they should have to worry about is their child getting a preventable disease like measles.”
 
Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications like pneumonia and brain infection. In the U.S., one in four people diagnosed with measles is hospitalized.
 
In preparation for kindergarten entry, parents should find their kid’s vaccination records and see if a vaccine is needed. For more information about vaccinations or to make an appointment at your local health department, please call or visit us online:
CDPHE also has many resources to help parents and caregivers make informed choices about vaccinating their children:
  • SpreadTheVaxFacts.com guides people through information and misinformation about vaccines with advice from Colorado doctors who also are parents.
  • http://covax4kids.org/ helps people find out if their kids are eligible for low- or no-cost vaccines and helps them find a provider who gives them.
  • COVaxRecords.org lets people know how to request vaccination records for their children.
  • COVaxRates.org makes it easy for people to look up vaccination and exemption rates for schools and child care facilities in Colorado so they can make the best decision for their children.
 
About Denver Public Health
Denver Public Health provides a wide range of services that evaluate, promote and protect the health and well-being of the residents of Denver and beyond. Denver Public Health monitors the health of Denver and responds to disease outbreaks and other emergencies, as well as works with many partners to prevent health problems by decreasing injury, preventing tobacco-related illnesses and promoting healthy eating and active living. Clinical services include: STD screening and treatment, family planning, immunizations, tuberculosis screening and care, birth and death records and HIV/AIDS care.
 
About Jefferson County Public Health
Public health is what we as a society do collectively to prevent illness and premature death and promote health in our neighborhoods and communities. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is a nationally accredited health department committed to promoting and protecting health across the lifespan for all people through prevention, education and partnerships. To learn more about JCPH, visit  www.jeffco.us/public-health. You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH,
Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.
 
About Tri-County Health Department
Tri-County Health Department serves over 1.5 million people in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. It provides over 60 programs and services including birth certificates, immunizations, WIC, restaurant inspections, family planning, STI/HIV Testing and infectious disease investigations. For more information, visit www.tchd.org, Twitter @TCHDHealth or Facebook @cotchd.
Group Photo
Posted on: November 19, 2024

Adams County Commissioners Award More Than $12 Million in Open Space Grants

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Adams County Board of Commissioners (BoCC) awarded more than $12 million in open space grants for 21 projects thanks to the voter-approved Open Space Sales Tax. Funding for the fall 2024 grant cycle came from revenues from the first half of the 2024 Adams County Open Space Sales Tax, which was passed by Adams County voters in 1999, and in perpetuity in 2020.

Dionne Stroter
Posted on: November 5, 2024

Adams County Appoints Dionne Stroter as Deputy County Manager

Adams County is proud to announce the appointment of Dionne Stroter as Deputy County Manager. A Colorado native with over 20 years of experience in public administration, Stroter brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for equity and community engagement to her new role.

Consul Mexico Visit
Posted on: October 31, 2024

Adams County Hosts Consul General of Mexico for Collaborative Lunch Meeting with Board of County Commissioners

The Adams County Board of County Commissioners and senior leadership welcomed the appointed Consul General of Mexico in Denver, Ambassador Pavel Melendez-Cruz, at a meet-and-greet lunch on Tuesday, Oct. 29. This meeting fostered an invaluable discussion on deepening partnerships to better serve Adams County’s growing Mexican community and enhance mutual collaboration across economic, social, and cultural initiatives.

Kristin Sullivan
Posted on: October 22, 2024

Adams County Appoints Kristin Sullivan as Deputy County Manager

Adams County is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristin Sullivan as Deputy County Manager. Sullivan brings 20 years of experience in local government and urban planning, including 11 years of prior service with Adams County, and is set to strengthen the county’s leadership team with her extensive knowledge and expertise.

Posted on: October 14, 2024

Commissioners’ Corner: Looking Back to Move Forward

By Emma Pinter, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners

When Adams County puts together our annual community report, teams across our departments pore over a year of successes, statistics, and stories to decide what should be included. We compare each moment side-by-side with our mission and vision and evaluate our accomplishments based on what matters most—the impact they had on the lives of our county’s residents.

Posted on: October 10, 2024

Behavioral Health Employers Need More Workers—Adams County Looking to Make the Connection

What: Behavioral Health Career Fair
Where: Front Range Community College Westminster Campus, Rocky Mountain Room, 3645 W. 112th Ave., Westminster
When: Friday, Oct. 11, 4–7 p.m.

Following the recommendations of the Adams County Behavioral Health Services and Supports Assessment: A Blueprint for Action, Adams County is addressing one of the barriers to behavioral health services: a lack of workforce.

Posted on: October 3, 2024

Colorado Air and Space Port Achieves National Airport Designation

Elevated Status in FAA Classification Positions Airport for Future Growth and Funding Opportunities

Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP) is proud to announce its new designation as a National General Aviation Airport, the highest classification in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). This significant achievement reflects the airport's increasing activity, infrastructure, and regional importance in aviation.

David Fraser
Posted on: September 18, 2024

Adams County Appoints David Fraser as Interim County Manager

Adams County is pleased to announce the appointment of David Fraser as the Interim County Manager. Fraser, a distinguished leader with three decades of experience in local government, will guide the county through this transitional period until Spring 2025, when the Board of County Commissioners will seek a permanent replacement.