DIRECTORS' CORNER

As we enter flu season, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is encouraging the Jeffco community to get their annual flu vaccine. While there is no way of knowing yet what the flu season will look like this year, getting a flu vaccine is an added way to protect you and your family from the influenza virus and give you some peace of mind.

Influenza can be a serious disease that can result in hospitalization and even death. Some people are more at risk for complications from the flu [external link], including older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with some chronic health conditions. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment [external link], during the last flu season (2021-2022), more than 1,200 Coloradans were hospitalized from the flu, and there was one pediatric death.

The flu vaccine is available at the JCPH clinic, your primary care provider and most pharmacies. Don’t wait, protect yourself against the flu today!

Together,
Gwyn Rodman-Rice
Interim Clinic Services Director
Jefferson County Public Health

COVID-19 UPDATES

New Omicron Boosters Available at JCPH Clinic

To continue to provide the best protection from the COVID-19 virus and its variants, JCPH is excited to announce the availability of new bivalent booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at our clinic in Lakewood (645 Parfet Street). These updated booster doses, also known as omicron doses, have been updated to include spike protein components from the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants, which will help ensure better protection from the virus. The updated boosters are a combined dose of the original vaccine and the new formulation, which is why they are called bivalent.

All authorized COVID-19 vaccines, including pediatric doses for all people ages 6 months and older, and all types of vaccine, including Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson, are available at JCPH. Our COVID-19 walk-in clinic is open Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.

To learn more about the omicron booster and to see if you’re eligible, please visit the JCPH website or the CDPHE website [external link].

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Learn More about Mental Illness Awareness

More than 51 million adults in the U.S. face the reality of managing a mental illness every day. That is why each year, during the first week of October, JCPH joins the National Alliance of Mental Illness and participants across the country to raise awareness of mental illness. Together we can fight discrimination and provide support through #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek. Find more resources or how to get involved at NAMI.org [external link].

Explore the Colorado Green Business Network

At JCPH we see businesses as a vital part of our community and when we work together our impact is even greater for public health issues. The newly-formed Colorado Green Business Network [external link] is proud to announce that 42 Colorado companies have earned their spot as certified members. To certify, each of these companies demonstrated an impressive commitment to integrate sustainability into their daily operations. The Colorado Green Business Network community represents a diverse array of businesses across the state, large and small, that implement unique and inspiring projects to reduce their environmental impact.

JCPH Works to Keep Jeffco Food Safe

DYK? JCPH offers the community the ability to look up any retail food establishment in Jeffco to check the results of their health inspections? JCPH Environmental Health Specialists perform inspections of more than 2,000 establishments, including restaurants, grocery stores, schools, food trucks and more. These inspections protect the public's health by assuring that foods sold and served in Jefferson County are as safe as they can be and that retail food establishments comply with state laws and regulations. See and search inspection records.

GET INVOLVED

Attend the September Board of Health Meeting

Join the Jefferson County Board of Health for their monthly meeting. Public comment for this meeting can be submitted through form or email, or you can use the form to sign up to provide comment during the live (virtual) meeting. This month, the Board of Health meeting is on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The agenda and dial-in information will be available on the JCPH website.

PARTNER PROFILE

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

As a public health organization, caring for the health of our whole community is our priority. We are thankful for the way the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) supports public health. Twice a year, JCSO joins law enforcement agencies nationwide to help residents dispose of potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets. The Drug Take-Back Day allows the public to surrender expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications, which can be a potential supply source for illegal use and unacceptable public health and safety risk. These medications are then destroyed in a way that is safe for our environment and community. The next scheduled event is on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn more about Drug Take-Back Day and find a location near you [external link].

Join the conversation! Follow Jefferson County Public Health on Facebook at @jeffcopublichealth and on Twitter and Instagram at @jeffcoph. Visit our website at www.jeffco.us/public-health.

October 2022 // Volume 4, Issue 10