Guidance for Halloween Safety

Overview

Make sure the only scares you have this Halloween are the fun kind by taking some steps to protect yourself, your family and friends and the community at large.

Vaccines

The best thing that eligible individuals can do to protect their health and the health of their children is to get vaccinated.

CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19, whether or not they have ever previously been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

The City of St. Louis Department of Health and the CDC recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Learn more about getting a flu vaccine.

Neighborhood Trick or Treating

Parents or guardians who intend to take their child(ren) trick-or-treating can help protect everyone’s health and safety. Please follow these guidelines for Halloween-related events.

1. Trick or treaters and their parents/guardians should mask indoors and in crowded areas outdoors.
2. To lower their risk of illness, residents can leave individually wrapped candy or treats at the front of their lawns or driveways.
3. Once home, children need to wash their hands with soap and water. A parent/guardian should assess the candy to make sure all packages are wrapped, discarding any unwrapped candy.
4. Children are encouraged to practice good dental hygiene. Parents/guardians should set an example by practicing good dental hygiene themselves.

Halloween Events

The City calendar has local public Halloween events for youths and teens:

Additional Resources

• How to Protect Yourself and Others. Updated July 12, 2024
• Halloween Survival Guide. Accessed October 25, 2024
• COVID-19: Wastewater Surveillance. Accessed October 25, 2024