The rate of new COVID-19 infections in Colorado remains stubbornly high, despite substantial progress toward vaccinating the population. Both the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest maximizing vaccination whenever possible. Moreover, Colorado Joint Vaccine Task Force advises providers to take every opportunity to…
Since COVID-19 vaccines became a reality in late 2020, public health officials have watched closely all available data on vaccine hesitancy including the impacts of race and ethnicity as well as gender, education and age on the likelihood that a person would express concerns about taking a COVID vaccine. In September 2020, when the first…
According to a new report released by Children’s Hospital Colorado and Immunize Colorado, the state is experiencing two troubling trends: skyrocketing costs for care for children and adults suffering from vaccine-preventable diseases and plummeting rates of childhood vaccinations. The new data examines CDC National Immunization Survey data and 2019 Colorado Hospital Association inpatient and emergency…
For many months, Colorado has been ramping up its COVID-19 vaccine equity efforts. As we move away from a time of vaccine scarcity, that effort becomes more important than ever. From both inside and outside state government, organizations large and small across the state of Colorado have been focused on vaccine equity, both in access…
Updated May 26, 2021 The CAFP works hard to be a trusted voice at the advocacy table when discussing health policy in our state. Our efforts to improve House Bill 1232 – Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option have taken place alongside the advocate community and the medical community because our members understand the benefits…
During this year’s legislative session, 20 states have introduced legislation to restrict transgender youth’s access to therapies and treatments, including gender-affirming care. These bills, should they be signed into law, would interfere with the physician-patient relationship by penalizing or jailing physicians who administer or refer these services. While Colorado has not seen anti-trans legislation, the…
After a robust legislative session, changes to Colorado’s school entry immunization process will take effect when students return for the 2021-2022 school year, beginning July 1. The changes, approved by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis on June 26, 2020 and further codified by the Colorado Board of Health in November…
Dear Governor Polis, On behalf of the undersigned healthcare professionals and organizations, we urge you to maintain the existing Executive Order requiring masks in indoor public spaces. While there will be a time in the near future when masking can be eased, relaxing the mandate now would be premature and could undermine our progress against…
Over 20% of all congenital hearing loss is caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV), and 25% of children born with cCMV will have hearing loss or developmental problems. But in Colorado, over half of all children with health conditions due to cCMV are never diagnosed. Postnatal CMV infection can occur as early as 3 weeks…
To our community, The devastating events that took place this past week in Boulder, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia are heartbreaking. They display the grim manifestation of multiple epidemics that for too long have gone unchecked. While the economic and social stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic are always on our minds, both gun violence and racism…
On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law, sending $1,400 to most Americans and aid to state and local governments, schools, and businesses. This $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill also included expanding the Affordable Care Act and tax benefits that are estimated to cut child poverty rates in the US…
The Winter 2021 issue of Colorado Family Physician is out. In this issue, we focus on a theme of Health Equity and explore it from some unexpected angles, such as disability rights and environmental justice. We also discuss important vaccine news, updates on COVID-19, and the care benefits of sympathy. And don’t forget the CME!