February 3, 2025 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens.

Health officials are reminding folks to get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. Routt County Public Health says statewide hospital admissions are going up.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment has released the following numbers for COVID-19 immunization rates, as of Jan. 28, 2025.

15.7% of residents in Routt County
6.4% in Moffat County
5.9% in Jackson County
2.4% in Rio Blanco County

Statewide COVID vaccination statistics from the CDPHE

Here are the flu immunization rates for residents who are of the right age to get the flu vaccination:

25.5% in Routt County
17.5% in Moffat County
16.7% in Jackson County
13.6% in Rio Blanco County

Statewide FLU immunization statistics from the CDPHE

Most vaccinations are paid for through insurance, or they are available at a low or no-cost through your local public health office.

Routt County Public Health. Call 970-870-5341 for more information.
Moffat County Public Health is at 1198 W. Victory Way, Suite 110. Or call 970-701-7915 for more information.
Jackson County Public Health; 970-723-4002.
Rio Blanco County Public Health; 970-878-9520.

Press Release from Routt County Public Health; January 2025. (These numbers have been updated from the CDPHE website.)

Routt County Public Health Reminds Community to get Vaccinated

Routt County, CO, January 30, 2025 – Routt County Public Health is reminding the community that it is not too late to vaccinate against the Flu and COVID-19.

According to State health officials, “In recent weeks, there has been an increase in influenza activity across Colorado. As of January 4, there were 278 influenza hospital admissions in the state, up from 246 the previous week, and 140 on December 21. In addition, 19.77% of tests reported to the state last week tested positive for flu.”

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment recently published a dashboard showing respiratory virus immunization data. According to this dashboard, 24.1% of Routt County residents who are of a recommended age have received a Flu immunization, and 13.5% have received a COVID-19 immunization.

“Low COVID-19 and influenza vaccination rates leave our community vulnerable, especially the most at-risk among us. The result is seeing our high burden of disease being reported. Vaccination is a simple yet powerful way to protect ourselves and others, reducing the burden on our healthcare system and most importantly saving lives,” said Roberta Smith, Director of Routt County Public Health in response to the low numbers.

Most health insurers (including Medicaid, Medicare, CHP+, and private insurance) cover the full cost of flu, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations, so you don’t have to pay anything at providers that accept your health plan. Even without health insurance, you can still get flu and COVID-19 immunizations at low or no-cost at Routt County Public Health. Please call us at 970.870.5341 for more information and to schedule an appointment.

Getting recommended flu, COVID-19, and other routine vaccinations can reduce the risk of serious illness. In addition to getting vaccinated, CDPHE and Routt County Public Health recommend the following to help prevent the spread of the flu:

Practice good hand hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Cover your coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, then dispose of the tissue properly.
Stay home when you’re sick: If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the virus to others.
Avoid touching your face: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, as germs can easily spread this way.