DDPHE Blog: Safety First for Peace of Mind This Holiday Season

Published on October 18, 2024

In the blink of an eye holiday season is already here! The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) urges residents to prioritize their health and safety amidst an expected rise in respiratory illnesses such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 as the holidays approach. With temperatures dropping and more gatherings taking place indoors, it's crucial to take proactive measures to protect yourself and your loved ones. DDPHE recommends everyone stay up to date on all seasonal vaccinations, practice good hygiene habits and stay home when you are sick.

Get Vaccinated!

Getting vaccinated is the best way to stay protected from infection and severe illness this season and beyond. Everyone 6 months and older is eligible for both the annual flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The new COVID-19 formula will add additional protection against currently circulating variants. It is safe to receive the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. Adults over 60 may receive the RSV vaccine after conversations with their doctor.

If you're looking to get vaccinated, options are available for both free and low-cost vaccines. Most Americans can still get a COVID-19 vaccine for free. For people with health insurance, most plans will cover vaccines at no cost to you. Folks who don't have health insurance or with health plans that do not cover the cost can may be eligible for free vaccines from their local health centers; state, local, tribal, or territorial health department. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program also may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program. Some pharmacies, like CVS and Walgreens offer free flu shots. All vaccines are safe and effective. Don't know where to get vaccinated? Head to the DDPHE Immunization webpage to find a vaccination location!

Denver residents who meet certain criteria may be eligible to receive free vaccinations from DDPHE. As a certified VFC site, DDPHE can acquire and provide COVID-19 and other vaccines. DDPHE public health nurses are available to answer questions about if you qualify for vaccination through us. If you have additional questions for our public health nursing team, contact them by email to find out if you qualify for a free vaccine.

As it usually takes about two weeks for a vaccine to become effective, if you're looking for maximum protection, make sure you're vaccinated by the following dates:

• Thanksgiving: vaccinated by Nov. 14
• First day of Hanukkah: vaccinated by Dec. 11
• Christmas Eve: vaccinated by Dec. 10
• New Year's Eve: vaccinated by Dec. 17

Good Health Hygiene for the Win this Holiday Season

DDPHE encourages everyone to consider taking precautions to protect themselves and others as they go about their holiday routines including:

• Staying home when sick, including not visiting or interacting with people who may be at higher risk, including older adults, young children, and infants. What might feel like a mild cold for one person can be very serious for another person. This is important to preventing the spread of viruses and causing outbreaks, which put additional strain on the hospital system. Check out CDC's updated respiratory guidance for when you can go back to your normal activities and extra precautions to take.
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol.
• Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or upper arm sleeve when you cough or sneeze, throw away the tissue after you use it, and clean hands as instructed above.
• Cleaning potentially contaminated surfaces, like doorknobs, tables, handrails, etc.
• Avoiding sharing cups, eating utensils, and touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Seeing or calling a health care provider or doctor before going to a busy emergency department when you or your child has respiratory symptoms. Your provider can help you determine the best ways to manage symptoms and when it is important to be seen in the clinic, urgent care, or emergency department.

Safe holiday gatherings tips

In addition to vaccines and good health hygiene habits, DDPHE has the following tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe before holiday gatherings:

One week prior to your event:

• If your holiday gathering includes high-risk individuals like young kids or those over the age of 65, consider wearing a face covering in crowded public areas, like grocery stores, big box stores, airports, etc., Make sure everyone is vaccinated for flu and RSV, if eligible

After the event:

• If you start showing symptoms of flu or COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider to seek testing and treatment. Effective treatment for COVID-19 is available if it is administered within five to seven days of symptom onset.

If you're looking for free at-home COVID-19 tests, the federal government is providing free at-home COVID-19 testing kits. Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order up to four free tests through the COVIDTests.gov website. To request free at-home tests, visit COVIDTests.gov and follow the simple instructions to place your order. Tests will be shipped directly to your home at no cost. The site also provides detailed information on how to use the tests and what steps to take if you receive a positive result.

Additional information about immunizations and respiratory illnesses, visit the DDPHE Epidemiology and Disease Intervention webpage.

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