{"id":4723,"date":"2018-01-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=4723"},"modified":"2023-06-29T22:37:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T22:37:50","slug":"how-to-avoid-the-flu-during-peak-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/how-to-avoid-the-flu-during-peak-season\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid the flu during peak season","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Flu activity is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doh.wa.gov\/Portals\/1\/Documents\/5100\/420-100-FluUpdate.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">increasing in Washington state<\/a>, with 46 deaths reported statewide.<\/p>\n<p>The best protection against this virus is washing your hands regularly and getting the flu shot. There\u2019s still time. The flu shot is effective as long as flu viruses are circulating.<\/p>\n<p>Flu activity typically peaks between December and March, but it can last as late as May.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know about navigating peak flu season.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Flu shots are your best protection, and it\u2019s not too late to get one.<\/h2>\n<p>Flu viruses are constantly changing, so each year the vaccine is updated based on which influenza viruses are making people sick.<\/p>\n<p>The flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu by about 50\u201360 percent, according to research conducted by the CDC, which studies how well the vaccine protects against the flu each year.<\/p>\n<p>Traditional flu vaccines protect against three different flu viruses: two influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus.<\/p>\n<p>Even when the vaccine is not a good match against circulating viruses, it can still sometimes provide protection against different (but related) viruses, says the CDC.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone older than 6 months old should get the flu shot, according to the CDC. It\u2019s especially important for those at higher risk to get vaccinated:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Children younger than 5 but especially younger than 2<\/li>\n<li>Adults 65 and older<\/li>\n<li>Pregnant women<\/li>\n<li>Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities<\/li>\n<li>Native Americans<\/li>\n<li>People with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/about\/disease\/high_risk.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">certain medical conditions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>2. You can take additional steps to avoid the flu.<\/h2>\n<p>We know\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/news\/easiest-most-effective-defense-against-illness\/\">washing our hands<\/a>\u00a0is one of the most effective steps against illnesses such as the flu, but what else can you do?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are sick<\/li>\n<li>Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze<\/li>\n<li>Avoid touching your eyes and nose, as this is how flu viruses spread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>3. If you get sick, you can take steps to feel better.<\/h2>\n<p>Taking these steps is not a guarantee, of course. The key to getting better is to stay home and rest. In addition:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid close contact with family members so you don\u2019t pass on the illness<\/li>\n<li>Drink plenty of fluids \u2014 dehydration is a serious complication in flu patients<\/li>\n<li>You can treat fever and cough with over-the-counter medications for comfort<\/li>\n<li>If you have a flu-like illness, try to stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (unless you need to receive care)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>4. If symptoms don\u2019t improve, see your doctor.<\/h2>\n<p>If you experience a cough, fever or other flu symptoms that worsen or don\u2019t improve, this is the time to see your doctor.<\/p>\n<p>The same goes if you are pregnant, over age 65, or otherwise at high risk of flu-related complications.<\/p>\n<p>Difficulty breathing, inability to drink enough fluids and irritability in children are some of the more serious signs of a significant influenza infection, which can lead to complications.<\/p>\n<h2>5. You have several options when it comes to getting a flu shot.<\/h2>\n<p>MultiCare offers flu shots for both adults and children at a wide range of locations throughout the Puget Sound and Inland Northwest regions.<\/p>\n<p>Pharmacies that offer the flu shot typically accept most forms of insurance, but be sure to let your primary care doctor know you received your flu shot so it can be added to your record.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Inland Northwest<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>MultiCare Rockwood Clinic is now offering influenza immunizations at numerous provider locations. Please call <a href=\"tel:15098382531\">509-838-2531<\/a> to schedule your immunization at a convenient time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Puget Sound<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Make an appointment with your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/clinics\/\">primary care provider<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marybridge.org\/services\/primary-care\/\">pediatric provider<\/a>, or visit one of our walk-in clinics:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/immunization-clinic\/\">MultiCare Immunization Clinic at South Hill Mall<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marybridge.org\/services\/primary-care\/immunization-clinic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mary Bridge Immunization Clinic<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Additional resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/about\/season\/flu-season-2017-2018.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What you should know for the 2017-2018 influenza season<\/a>\u00a0(CDC)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/flu-shots-at-multicare\/\">Flu shots at MultiCare<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know about navigating peak flu season.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-primary-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - 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