Resource Library

Vaccine Hesitancy: Implications for COVID-19 Vaccine

As the United States distributes COVID-19 vaccine, confidence and trust in its safety and benefit will be critical to ensure widespread acceptance, especially as the disease disproportionally burdens communities of color. This fact sheet provides an overview of vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. and Colorado, vaccine hesitancy specific to communities of color, and COVID-19 vaccine-specific hesitancy in these same communities, while providing recommendations for improving vaccine acceptance and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

CDC National Immunization Survey Data Updates (2017-2020)

Vaccination coverage in the US and Colorado remains mostly high and stable. However, for many vaccines, the US and Colorado fail to reach the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Healthy People (HP) 2030 targets, and Colorado falls below national averages for vaccine coverage. This report provides an overview of data from the National Immunization Survey (NIS), conducted annually by the CDC. It is important to note that in 2020, vaccination rates declined significantly, due in part to more limited healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline is not currently represented in this review.

Co-Parenting: A Guide to Vaccination Rights

This FAQ document answers common questions about vaccination decisions for children with divorced and co-parents, including which parents have rights to make vaccination decisions depending on custody. It also includes resources on the topic of vaccination rights for parents or health professionals that may have questions.

2020 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Report (Volume 2)

Prepared by pediatricians and researchers from the Department of Epidemiology at Children’s Colorado, the second installment of the 2020 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Report examines 2019 data on influenza in Colorado. The November report draws on Colorado Hospital Association inpatient and emergency department data to reveal the health and economic burden influenza puts on Colorado communities.

Fact Sheet: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Vaccination in the U.S. and Colorado

As COVID-19 disproportionately impacts communities of color, and as these same communities are increasingly targeted with misinformation about vaccine safety, it is evident that systemic racism continues to drive a serious public health crisis in Colorado and beyond. This fact sheet outlines disparities in vaccination rates between racial and ethnic groups, as well as COVID-19's disproportionate impact on communities of color, the social and systemic causes of vaccine disparities, barriers to accessing vaccination and the troubling trend of vaccine misinformation being targeted directly at communities of color.

Fact Sheet: Senate Bill 20-163 Is Law. Now What?

Senate Bill 20-163, which aims to keep Colorado communities protected from vaccine-preventable diseases through the modernization of school entry immunization requirements, was officially signed into law by Governor Polis on June 26, 2020 and will be implemented for the 2021-22 school year. Supported by the vast majority of Colorado voters, this policy solution is even more important now as our communities face the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new fact sheet developed by Immunize Colorado provides a summary of the new law, its implementation and what it will mean for parents, schools and child care centers, and healthcare providers.

Analysis: Non-Medical Exemption Policies in Colorado Child Care Centers

Immunization policies at child care centers help ensure children and the broader community, including those who can’t be vaccinated, are protected vaccine-preventable diseases. States, including Colorado, typically set immunization requirements for schools and child cares in statute, however child care facilities often have some control over how the policy is enacted at their site, including whether or not they accept non-medical exemptions (NMEs). Child care administrators often seek guidance for improving their immunization policies, but few Colorado-specific resources currently exist. To support Colorado child care administrators and policymakers in future immunization policy decision making, Immunize Colorado collected and analyzed vaccination policies from Colorado child care centers to determine policy completeness.

On-Demand Training: Guidance for Hosting Socially Distanced Vaccination Clinics

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many families have put off getting routine vaccines and immunization rates have dropped. To curb additional disease outbreaks, health officials are urging families to stay current with vaccines and well-care visits. Many doctor's offices and clinics have restructured their processes and policies to comply with disease prevention measures like social distancing. However, there is little guidance available on how to modify large-scale vaccination clinics to host them safely. To assist health departments and public health officials in planning for these clinics, Immunize Colorado recently developed an on-demand training on best practices and recommendations for conducting socially distanced vaccine clinics.

Stay Vaccinated Resources for Parents - Multiple Languages

Childhood vaccination rates in Colorado dropped significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving communities vulnerable to preventable disease. To mitigate this drop in rates and get families back on track, CDPHE, Immunize Colorado and the AAP - Colorado Chapter recently developed a flyer and post card for parents and families. These resources communicate the importance of staying up to date with childhood vaccinations, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resources are available in 12 languages.

Fact Sheet: A National Review of Successes and Barriers to Pharmacists' Participation in the Vaccines for Children Program

Pharmacies serve as an important community-based access point for vaccinations and have the potential to better serve children by participating in the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. However, not all states allow pharmacies to participate in VFC, limiting access to the benefits of vaccination. The purpose of this new fact sheet is to summarize common successes and challenges experienced across the U.S. regarding pharmacists' participation in VFC and delivery of VFC vaccines.