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COVID + Flu – Don’t Spread Two

Most flu shots are reserved for patients who get primary and speciality care at Sansum Clinic – while supplies last.
2022-2023 FLU SHOT INFORMATION FOR SANSUM CLINIC PATIENTS
Flu Shot Information

Flu Shot Information

Available to Sansum Clinic patients while supplies last

Additional Information on Influenza

Additional Information on Influenza

Changes to how and where patients get a flu vaccine

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Flu Shot Donors

Flu Shot Donors

Generous supporters make the Flu Shot Program possible

Additional Information on Influenza

As the flu season rapidly approaches, updated guidance for influenza vaccination for the 2022-2023 Flu Season has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   

COVID + Flu – Don’t Spread Two

Flu shots are particularly important this upcoming flu season to prevent patients from potentially becoming ill with both COVID-19 and influenza – especially for those at increased medical risk for severe complications should they contract flu or COVID-19.

Influenza (“The Flu”)

The influenza virus can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions causing what we call the Flu. Anyone can get the Flu so the best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year.  

For most people, symptoms of the flu last only a few days. They include:

  • fever/chills
  • sore throat
  • muscle aches
  • fatigue
  • cough
  • headache
  • runny or stuffy nose

Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken for influenza.

Who is most vulnerable to the flu?

  • People 65 and older
  • People with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, heart, lung or kidney disease
  • Pregnant women
  • Young children, under 6 months of age, are at higher risk of serious flu illness but are too young to be vaccinated.  People who care for infants should be vaccinated instead.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

  • All people 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine. 
  • Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe flu and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel and close contacts of children younger than 6 months.

By getting a flu vaccine you can protect yourself from flu and may also avoid spreading flu to others.

Who should get the flu vaccine and when?

All people 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine.

Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe flu and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel and close contacts of children younger than 6 months.

Get the vaccine as soon as it is available. This should provide protection if the flu season comes early.

Flu can occur at any time, but most flu occurs from October through May. Getting vaccinated as soon as vaccine is available is a good idea, but if you delay, getting vaccinated later in the season will still be beneficial, as long as flu virus is still circulating.

Adults and older children need one dose of flu vaccine each year. But some children 6 months through 8 years of age may need two doses to be protected. Ask your doctor about vaccinating your child.

Flu vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.

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

Tell your doctor if you have any severe (life-threatening) allergies, including a severe allergy to eggs. A severe allergy to any vaccine component may be a reason not to get the vaccine. Allergic reactions to flu vaccine are rare.

Tell your doctor if you ever had a severe reaction after a flu shot. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS). Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.

People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to your doctor about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

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

A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions.

The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely rare. You cannot get the flu from the vaccine.

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored.

Some mild problems can include:

  • soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
  • hoarseness; sore, red or itchy eyes;
  • cough
  • fever
  • aches
  • headache
  • itching or fatigue

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and may last 1-2 days.

Young children who get inactivated flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) at the same time appear to be at increased risk for seizures caused by fever. Ask your doctor for more information and tell your doctor if a child who is getting flu vaccine has ever had a seizure.

After the Flu shot look for any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.

In this case, you should:‍

  • Call 911 and get the person to the nearest hospital right away.
  • Tell the doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.

For more information, contact the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at 1-800-CDC-INFO or 1-800-232-4636 or visit www.cdc.gov/flu. Thank you.

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