The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has started sending text messages and emails to families of more than 470,000 children between the ages of 7 and 18. The notifications are aimed at reminding parents and guardians that their children may be due for routine vaccinations, including those required for K-12 school attendance.
According to CDPHE, the text messages will come from the number 45778 and state:
“From CDPHE: According to state public health records, your child/children aged 7 through 18 years may be due for routine vaccine(s), including those required for K-12 schools. Now is the perfect time to check vaccines off of your back-to-school list. To find a vaccine provider near you, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/immunizations/get-vaccinated.
You can exempt your child/children from school-required vaccines. For more info, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions (including this language is a statutory requirement).”
Emails will be sent from cdphe.vaccine.registry@state.co.us with similar information:
“Dear parent(s) or guardian(s),
According to state public health records, your child/children aged 7 through 18 years may be due for routine vaccine(s), including those required for K-12 schools. The best way to ensure your child has a healthy school year is to get them vaccinated. Now is the perfect time to check vaccines off of your back-to-school list. Contact a health care provider or your local public health agency to make an appointment and learn more about which vaccine(s) are needed.
If your child/children are already up to date with their vaccine(s), let us know by filling out this secure form. Be sure to attach a copy of their vaccine record. We are standing by to update their vaccination record in our Colorado Immunization Information System and will notify you by email when it has been updated.
To find a vaccine provider near you, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/immunizations/get-vaccinated
You can exempt your child/children from school-required vaccines. For more information, visit: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions. (Including this language is a statutory requirement).
You can access the immunization record for yourself or your child from the online Colorado Immunization Information System self-serve portal. For more information, including step-by-step directions on how to use the portal, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/immunization/for-the-public/get-a-copy-of-your-records.”
The department notes that most health insurance plans in Colorado—including Medicaid and CHP+—cover the cost of routine childhood vaccines at providers who accept these plans. Families without insurance can also obtain recommended vaccines free of charge at nearly 600 locations across the state.
