health
FDA signs off on extending booster shots to Americans who got Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration's decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign
West Nile virus cases climbing in Colorado
As of this week, 139 Coloradans have contracted the mosquito-borne illness, which has resulted in six deaths
Douglas County Health Board approves opt-out of masking mandates
Douglas County Health Board President Doug Benevento said during the Oct. 8 special board of health meeting that he would not hand down any masking mandates for children without what he called “clear and convincing evidence of the benefits of masking"
Douglas County’s next step for its new health department is to find a qualified director
Colorado statute lays out clear requirements for the role, including past experience in public health
Opinion: For women of color, breastfeeding can involve confronting history, obstacles and scarce resources
Aug. 25-31 is Black Breastfeeding Week, helping mothers provide the best “first food” to their newborns
COVID-19 booster shots could begin on Sept. 20
In a statement, health officials said it is “very clear” that the vaccines' protection against infection wanes over time
Masks will be required in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas county schools for those under 12
Should any of those individual counties opt out of the requirement, it would be up to school districts to decide whether to follow the order
Biden administration will recommend that people receive a COVID vaccine booster 8 months after second shot
Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall
Many Colorado students are back in class, but the state’s expanded school COVID testing program won’t start for weeks
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is behind schedule to sign contracts for a weekly COVID-19 rapid testing program available to schools statewide
Opinion: Masks for schoolchildren? This is not a tough call.
No one needs more time, or more data, or more consultation.
Douglas County School District town hall on COVID-19 plans turns raucous
The crowd first erupted with boos when Superintendent Corey Wise displayed a slide saying the district is recommending universal masking when school begins next week
Bus stop by bus stop, Denver-area health officials microtarget vaccine hesitancy
A mobile clinic in the East Colfax neighborhood is part of a new push by Denver-area public health officials to find the neighborhoods where vaccinations lag behind state or county averages
Colorado health chief says she “didn’t grasp” problem that led to huge HIV program cuts
Jill Hunsaker Ryan, a key member of Gov. Jared Polis’ cabinet, said she didn’t realize how legal guidance would affect funding for HIV prevention
How an Aurora doctor breaks norms to treat refugees and recent immigrants
Dr. P.J. Parmar designed the Mango House clinic to survive on the Medicaid payments that many doctors across the U.S. reject as too low
Colorado expected to receive at least $300 million through opioid-crisis settlement — if local governments approve the deal
The tentative settlement, announced Wednesday, would bring to nearly $400 million that could come to Colorado through opioid litigation
Colorado’s new COVID guidance for schools: Masks not required, quarantine rules relaxed
Some Colorado school districts have already announced they won’t require masks next year, while in others, officials said they were weighing their options and waiting for state guidance
Colorado’s reinsurance programs will continue to keep health costs low, governor says
Individuals buying on the exchange are expected to save more than 24% next year compared with what they would pay if they had to purchase coverage without the reinsurance program
Rural ambulance services in mountain communities are in jeopardy as volunteers age and expenses mount
In rural America, it’s increasingly difficult for ambulance services to respond to emergencies. One factor is that emergency medical services are struggling to find young volunteers to replace retiring EMTs
