English

COVID treatments available in Colorado

AVAILABLE IN COLORADO| Paxlovid, oral antiviral.

ERIC FRANCE URGES PARENTS TO VACCINATE CHILDREN

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

Haga click aquí para leer la versión en español

Since May 2022, Coloradans have been able to access treatment options that can prevent severe cases of COVID. These treatments, oral antivirals such as Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies such as Evulsheld, along with high levels of vaccination and levels of herd immunity, have kept hospitalizations low during recent surges in COVID-19 cases. the variants of the Omicron.

“If you test positive for COVID, check with your doctor about whether you can get these treatments that are free and can reduce the risks of severe cases,” said Eric Frances, chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Frances also indicated that parents should make sure that their children have had their vaccinations and polio booster.

Are COVID Treatments Available to Coloradans?

Eric France: Treatments are widely available and free. Getting treatment can reduce your chance of being hospitalized by up to 90 percent. Just as we have been encouraging people to get vaccinated to reduce hospitalizations, everyone who now tests positive for COVID should think of treatments as reducing their chances of being hospitalized or having serious complications.

How can you access these treatments?

EF: If you test positive for COVID, you should contact your doctor, nurse, or clinic. Ask them if the treatments are right for you. However, if you don’t have access to a doctor, you can talk to a local pharmacist about treatments. We have a “Test to Treat” program that would allow you to get tested at a pharmacy and then get treatment as well.

On the other hand, I am aware that many visits today for health care are virtual. We call this method telehealth. In Colorado there are many companies that offer telehealth and a virtual medical visit will be able to help you decide on these treatments. Five of the companies will be able to provide care in Spanish. The experience of many people with telehealth is very positive. After the virtual visit, the tests are carried out and a few hours later, the treatment could begin if it is the case.

There is a high percentage of unvaccinated Hispanic children. Now that they are going back to school, should we expect a spike in COVID cases?

EF: With the return of children to schools, you could see a slight increase in cases. But for the most part, I don’t expect big breakouts. However, having our children vaccinated against COVID is the best way to protect them against possible spread of COVID due to returning to school. It is possible that sometime in the fall or winter, there will be a new type of COVID virus that will arrive in Colorado and could begin to spread. We haven’t seen this yet, it’s just a possible scenario.

RECOMMENDS YOU VACCINATE| Eric France, medical director of the CDPHE. (Photo/ El Comercio de Colorado)

Giving polio vaccines

We have seen recent cases of polio in New York. What is your message for Hispanic families to be aware of the risks of polio?

EF: Polio is a disease that we haven’t seen in North or South America for many years. These new cases are very rare. They have occurred in New York, and we haven’t seen any cases here in Colorado. Our children are vaccinated against polio in the first two years of life and then get a polio booster when they turn five.

Families with young children, especially those now in kindergarten and first grade, should make sure their children have received their polio booster within the past two years. We want to be sure that all children are protected from polio. We will be watching to see if it spreads to other parts of the United States. What we do know is that the polio vaccine is very effective. Parents should make sure their children get the polio vaccine and all other vaccines.

Monkeypox cases

Is there any information from the wastewater monitoring system related to the increase in cases of monkeypox in Colorado?

EF: Not at this time. There is a small group of people who are at risk in the state of Colorado and we have been working hard to offer them vaccines. We have many doses of the vaccine now in the state and are working to open new clinics to make it available to people in Colorado. A small proportion of adults, gay and bisexual men, make up the primary population at risk right now and we are making it easier to access the vaccine.

Are there any cases of monkeypox in children in Colorado?

EF: I don’t think there has been. We think there might be a child infected here in Colorado; but, later it turned out that the information was not correct.

Pharmacies and telehealth

On the CDPHE website you can get information on pharmacies where COVID treatments can be found. At the same time, you can find out which are the local providers that offer the Telehealth service in Spanish.