Now is an excellent time for flu shot

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Influenza ("flu") has arrived in King County, but Public Health — Seattle & King County is announcing that the peak of the flu season has not arrived and there is still time to get vaccinated and protected from influenza. In our area, influenza frequently peaks in late January and February and lasts through spring. The vaccine in use this season protects against the types of influenza that have been reported.

During the week of January 21 through 24, Public Health — Seattle & King County will provide low-cost influenza vaccine on a walk-in basis at each of the Public Health Immunization Clinic sites in King County. To find the hours and location of the Public Health clinic closest to you, call the Public Health Hotline at 206-296-4949. (Public Health clinics are closed on Monday, January 20 in observance Martin Luther King's birthday.)

A recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that influenza deaths are increasing in the United States, causing up to 70,000 deaths per year, with significantly higher risk of complications and death in persons age 65 years and older. Health care workers and people who live or work with high-risk persons including the elderly also are encouraged to receive the influenza vaccine so that they do not pass influenza to those at high risk.

Those at highest risk of complications from influenza (including hospitalization and death) include:

• all people age 65 or older
• adults and children 6 months and older with chronic diseases of the heart, lung or kidneys, diabetes, or immunosuppression including HIV infection
• pregnant women who will be past their third month of pregnancy during flu season

If you have specific questions about influenza disease or vaccine, call Public Health at 206-296-4774 or the 24-hour hotline at 206-296-4949 or visit the Flu Season Update page.