The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will begin sending text and email reminders to families of more than 225,000 children between 6 months and 5 years old who may be overdue for their annual flu vaccine. The effort comes as the state sees a rise in flu hospitalizations.
The messages, starting December 16, will inform parents and guardians that their child may be due for a flu shot according to records from the Colorado Immunization Information System. The text message reads:
“From CDPHE: State public health records indicate that your child/children aged 6 months through 5 years old may be due for their annual flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu-related illnesses and protect your child from serious complications. Contact a vaccine provider today! To find one near you: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/immunizations/get-vaccinated.”
Emails sent from cdphe.vaccine.registry@state.co.us will include the following message:
“Our records indicate that as of Dec. 15, 2025, your child/children between the ages of 6 months through 5 years may be due for their annual flu vaccine. The flu vaccine can help protect your child from serious illness.
Getting a flu vaccine is especially important for children aged 5 years and younger because they are at higher risk of serious complications if they get sick with the flu. Colorado is currently experiencing increasing flu activity, with a 43% increase in flu hospitalizations during the last week in November.
Contact a health care provider, a local public health agency, or a local pharmacy to make a vaccine appointment today. Find a provider near you.
If your child/children have already received their annual flu vaccine, let us know about it! Complete this Google form to update their record in the Colorado Immunization Information System. You will need to submit a request form for each child.
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’s Get a Copy of Your Immunization Records webpage.”
The department notes that most health insurance plans, including Medicaid and CHP+, cover all costs related to the flu vaccine when visiting an in-network provider. For those without insurance, free or low-cost vaccines are available at nearly 600 providers across Colorado.
