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Pitkin County public health prepares seasonal respiratory campaign; wastewater monitoring expands to RSV and flu
Summary
Public health staff briefed the board on the respiratory illness season, wastewater surveillance additions and a $12,000 communications campaign to promote vaccination and healthy practices, with special outreach to Spanish speakers and uninsured residents.
Pitkin County public health staff on Oct. 10 told the Board of Health the county is preparing for the 2024–25 respiratory illness season, emphasizing vaccination, wastewater monitoring and targeted communications.
Staff reported the respiratory season officially began Oct. 1 and highlighted two surveillance resources: the federal CDC FluView dashboard and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s viral respiratory dashboard, which the state will update more frequently this season. Public health staff said wastewater monitoring at the Aspen site will now include RSV and influenza in addition to COVID markers; the Aspen site is one of 22 statewide wastewater sites retained for ongoing surveillance.
Dr. Levin, who presented the update in the absence of staff epidemiologist Carly, summarized vaccine effectiveness data from recent seasons and southern‑hemisphere reports: the current year’s flu vaccine was estimated at roughly 35 percent effectiveness against circulating strains in recent southern‑hemisphere data; nirsevimab (an RSV monoclonal given to some infants and pregnant persons) showed about 76 percent effectiveness at preventing severe illness in infants in the prior season; and last year’s updated COVID vaccine showed approximately 57 percent effectiveness against symptomatic infection and 69 percent effectiveness at preventing severe illness.
To improve community preparedness and vaccine uptake, staff proposed a $12,000 communications campaign. Half of that funding would sponsor a weekly segment on Aspen ADT morning show throughout the winter season; the other $6,000 would buy a mix of print, digital, radio and digital‑audio ads, with materials and placements in Spanish to reach Latinx community members. Staff said multilingual outreach helped reach Spanish speakers successfully in prior campaigns.
Community Health Services will run flu clinics and has limited free COVID vaccine supply for uninsured and underinsured residents; staff said the state is working to supply additional doses and to deploy a vaccine bus to reach uninsured residents if logistics permit. Staff encouraged vaccination now and reminded residents that people who recently had COVID are generally advised to wait about three months before getting an updated vaccine.
Board members discussed hospitalizations, ER visits and deaths as the most important metrics for monitoring severe disease and welcomed the expansion of wastewater surveillance.
Staff also noted ongoing planning for messaging by season: October–December emphasis on vaccination, January–April on healthy practices and care‑seeking. The board did not take formal action on funding but was briefed on the campaign approach and supported the communication priorities and expanded surveillance.
