Flu Q&A: Where to get vaccine? How prevalent is flu this year?

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Flu vaccinations are available 12:30-5 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays at the MultiCare Immunization Clinic at South Hill Mall.

Flu Q&A: Where to get vaccine? How prevalent is flu this year?
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Flu season appears to be peaking earlier and affecting more people than last year in Western Washington, according to lab results from patients tested at the hospitals and clinics of MultiCare Health System in Pierce, King, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

So far in the 2012-2013 flu season, the highest number of cases have been identified from late December and January. Last week, 166 flu cases were identified from 763 people tested at MultiCare facilities. In the first week of January, 173 flu cases were identified. Infection rates are nearly three times what they were this time last year.

Last year, 47 flu cases were identified per week during the height of the 2011-2012 flu season, between March and April.

Still, it's not too late to get a flu vaccination. The flu season in Western Washington is far from over.

MultiCare health care providers have vaccinated more than 44,000 people in Pierce and King counties. And more than 90 percent of MultiCare’s employees have been vaccinated against the flu.

Where can I get flu vaccine in Tacoma or Puyallup?

Children and adults may receive vaccinations from the MultiCare Immunization Clinic at South Hill Mall:

12:30-5 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays
MultiCare Immunization Clinic at South Hill Mall
3500 South Meridian, Puyallup
No appointments necessary.
253-697-1426

Is there free flu vaccine for children?

Two drop-in clinics offer free immunizations for all children from birth through age 18 in Tacoma and Gig Harbor.
For adults ages 18 and older, two locations offer drop-in immunizations, as well as other health services:
The flu vaccine is available in two forms:
- A shot. Flu shots can be given to adults and to children age 6 months and older.
- Nasal spray. The nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist) can be given to adults and children age 2 – 49 years of age. The nasal spray flu vaccine isn't recommended for children ages 2 to 4 who have asthma or a history of wheezing, pregnant women, people who have certain medical conditions or muscle or nerve disorders, people who have weak immune systems, and children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.
Why is flu vaccine important?

Injectable vaccine will be available for adults. Injectable vaccine and nasal spray will be available for children. A yearly flu vaccine is the most important step in protecting against this serious disease. Within the past month, MultiCare hospitals have seen both adult and pediatric deaths related to influenza.
While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness a few years ago.

How do I prevent flu?

Because both cold and flu viruses can be easily spread through contact with people or surfaces that are contaminated, frequent hand washing can go a long way toward prevention. Wash your hands after having any contact with someone who has any cold symptoms. And keep your school-age child with a cold away from younger siblings — particularly infants — until the symptoms pass. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also be used and are very effective at killing germs on clean hands. The product must contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.

What are flu symptoms?

Flu symptoms can start about one or two days after you are exposed to the virus. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and include some or all of these symptoms:
Fever, sometimes rising above 103 F

Chills

Dry cough

Sore throat

Muscle aches

Loss of appetite

Extreme fatigue

Stuffy or runny nose
What should I do if I'm sick with flu?

Expect to be ill for at least a week. Unless medical care is necessary, you and your kids should stay home and minimize contact with others, including avoiding travel and not going to work or school until you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

If you do not have an emergency concern that warrants a visit to a hospital Emergency Department, you are encouraged to seek care at your primary-care provider, or at an Urgent Care (locations in Auburn, Covington, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Kent, Lakewood, Spanaway, University Place and West Tacoma) or an Express Clinic (locations in Lakewood and Tacoma). For children with non-emergency conditions, consider the Mary Bridge Child Express in Gig Harbor, the only urgent care in Pierce County that's specifically for children.

If you leave the house to seek medical care, wear a face mask and cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your covered elbow. With influenza, people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to seven days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

How do I get relief from flu?

Flu symptoms can make you feel awful, but if you're basically healthy and you're not pregnant, take care of yourself at home. Try these remedies:
Some people have more risk of flu complications (for example, young children, people 65 and older, people with asthma, diabetes or pregnant women) If these individuals have flu like symptoms they should talk to their health care provider about whether or not they need to be seen.

Posted on Jan 17, 2013 in Clinics