Flu vaccine widely available in King County Public Health – Seattle and King County.

Flu season can begin as early as October.

Health experts recommend that everyone six months and older get the flu vaccine, especially people at high-risk for severe influenza, including:

• children 6 months through their fifth birthday
• pregnant women, to protect both the mother and the newborn infant
• adults age 50 years and older
• people with chronic health problems like diabetes, heart, liver, lung, kidney, and certain neurological diseases, and extreme obesity.
• Household members, care givers, and other close contacts of high-risk people should get vaccinated to prevent them from spreading influenza.

Vaccine supply is widely available in King County.

Flu shots are available at doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies, and other providers.

Some health care providers and pharmacies may also have FluMist, the nasal spray vaccine.

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, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/flu.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.9 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle and King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

More at www.kingcounty.gov/health.