“COVID is still with us,” said Erika Norris, a family physician at UCHealth in Estes Park. “The newer variant is more contagious,” she added, “although not as deadly.”
Vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed by ten different companies. The ones developed by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have been approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends vaccination but does not specifically recommend any one of the three.
Norris advises her patients to get the COVID vaccine, but she respects the wishes of patients who are leery of vaccines. “We know now that the vaccine does not prevent transmission of the virus,” she said. She explained that what the vaccine does do is limit the severity of a COVID infection. As a result, vaccinated people are less likely to be hospitalized with a COVID infection or die from it.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported that on September 10, 2024, 167 people in Colorado were hospitalized with COVID infections, the highest number in seven months. The clinicians at UCHealth in Estes Park are also seeing more cases.
Norris pointed out that only those patients with serious complications are hospitalized. Less serious cases are managed like other viral respiratory illnesses, or with the addition of nirmatrelvir, better known by the brand name Paxlovid.
Large gatherings, sea cruises and air travel are situations where COVID is easily passed from one person to another, Norris said. In the 1918 influenza pandemic. public health measures were the only strategies available, and people generally complied with them. Today, she added, it is more difficult to get people to adhere to such restrictions.
With winter approaching, Estes Park residents will be at greater risk. Norris’s advice: “Stay home if you’re sick.” She went on to add, “And if you’re not improving, do not delay getting medical attention.”
The Colorado Department of Health and Environment tracks COVID hospitalizations in the state and also other COVID related statistics. The number of people hospitalized with COVID increased 17% between Sept. 3 and Sept. 10. As of Tuesday there were 163 people hospitalized with COVID, up from 146 during the previous reporting period.
The COVID vaccine is available locally at UCHealth Estes Park, Rocky Mountain Pharmacy, Safeway Pharmacy, Salud Family Health, and Estes Park Health.
Terry Rustin is a physician, board-certified in internal medicine and certified in addiction medicine. He graduated from medical school in 1974 and completed his residency in 1977. He is a recognized expert in behavioral medicine and addiction psychiatry.