What is Influenza (also called Flu)?

Influenza is a very contagious illness that strikes millions of Americans each year. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination each fall.

Influenza, unlike the common cold, has a swift onset of severe symptoms beginning with two to seven days of fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, runny or stuffy nose and sore throat, and a cough that is often severe and may last seven days or more.

 
Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.


How Flu Spreads

Flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. They usually spread from person to person, though sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you can pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

 
Preventing the Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall. There are two types of vaccines: 

• The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against influenza-like illnesses caused by other viruses.


When to Get Vaccinated

October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.


Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:

• Children aged 6–59 months of age
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities

2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
• Health care workers.

3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
• People who developed Guillan-Barre Syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health-care provider.


Where can you get a flu shot?

Evergreen offers influenza vaccinations to all of our patients including those hospitalized during the flu season as well as patients of our primary care and outpatient clinics and patients of our Home Health program.  If you are an Evergreen patient, please contact your care provider to arrange for a vaccination appointment. 

We also provide vaccinations free of charge to the uninsured, lower-income members of our community.  If you think you qualify for a free flu shot, you can call the Healthcare Access Program at 425.899.3251 for more information.

Evergreen does not have any vaccination clinics open to the general public. The local Public Health Department does offer vaccination clinics starting October 10. Injectable flu vaccine is available at many health care providers’ offices and clinics and many pharmacies throughout the area, in addition to Public Health clinics. Some providers will also have the intranasal flu vaccine available. 

Information about Public Health clinic locations can be found at the following Web sites:

Seattle-King County Public Health 
Washington State Department of Health  
Get a Flu Shot.com  
Find a Flu Shot.com  
Prevention MD.com  
Visiting Nurse Services   

Information is also available by calling the Evergreen Healthline at 425.899.3000.


Influenza Links

These Web sites contain additional information about influenza and the influenza vaccine:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
Washington State Department of Health's Flu News
King County Public Health Department's Flu Page