Flu shots now available in Seattle and King County

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON – Every year in King County thousands of people get sick from seasonal influenza, also known as the flu. Vaccination is the best way both to prevent the risk of getting sick and to lessen the severity of illness. This flu season it will be easier than ever to get vaccinated since flu shots will be available earlier in the year and in larger amounts.

“Getting a flu shot protects you, your family and your community against a highly contagious illness that causes over 30,000 deaths nationally every year,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Influenza also causes avoidable missed days of school and work for both students and parents, and unnecessary medical visits and antibiotic prescriptions.”

“We expect vaccine supply to be plentiful, and we strongly encourage all persons for whom it is recommended and anyone who wants it to get vaccinated,” said Fleming.

This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded its recommendations about who should get the vaccine to include children aged six months through 18 years. Youngest children have high rates of serious influenza infection and all children can carry the virus or get sick and then pass the illness to family members including infants, adults, seniors and to others at high-risk for complications. Immunizing children of all ages will reduce illness, as well as potential transmission.

Influenza, unlike the common cold, has a swift onset of severe symptoms beginning with two to seven days of fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, runny nose and sore throat, and a cough that is often severe and may last seven days or more. Influenza can also be a risk factor for serious bacterial pneumonia, including MRSA.

Who should get a flu vaccine?

Vaccination is recommended to protect people at high-risk for complications from the flu, including:

• Children aged six months until their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People, 6 months or older, with certain chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease or diabetes
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

People who live with or care for those at high risk for health complications from flu should be vaccinated as well, including:

• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, who are too young to be vaccinated
• Healthcare workers

Also, anyone who wants protection against seasonal flu should receive flu vaccine.

People at high risk for influenza-related complications may also need immunization against pneumococcal pneumonia. If you think you may need this vaccine, talk to your health care provider.

Injectable flu vaccine and FluMist availability

In King County, flu shots are available now at many doctors’ offices and other providers, such as drugstores and pharmacies.

Some health care providers and pharmacies may also have FluMist, the live attenuated vaccine. Instead of getting an injection, a small amount of vaccine is sprayed into each nostril. FluMist is licensed for healthy people aged 2 through 49 years.

The federal and state funded Vaccines for Children Program subsidizes the cost of children’s vaccine at most health care clinics. With the expanded CDC recommendations, this program now includes funding for flu vaccine for all children aged 6 months through 18 years.

Other ways to protect yourself from the flu

As always, healthy habits can limit the spread of contagious illnesses, including the flu, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands often, avoid close contact with ill people, and stay home from work, school, and other public settings when ill. For more information on good health manners and educational materials, visit Public Health’s Stop Germs, Stay Healthy! webpage: www.metrokc.gov/health/stopgerms

For complete information about seasonal influenza, where to get a flu vaccine, and costs, please visit the Flu Season web pages atwww.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/fluseason. or call Public Health’s Information Line at 206-296-4949.