Translated information to share:
Flyers with information about flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines:
Amharic │Arabic │Chinese, Sim. │Chinese, Trad. │English│Khmer│Korean│Russian│Somali│Spanish │Ukrainian│Vietnamese
Posters about how to avoid sickness during cold and flu season:
Amharic│Arabic│Chinese, Sim.│Chinese, Trad.│Dari│English│Japanese│Khmer│Korean│Marshallese│ Russian│Somali│Spanish│Ukrainian│Vietnamese
Information about getting vaccinated at the Public Health Kent Vaccination Clinic:
Amharic│Arabic│Chinese, Sim.│Chinese, Trad.│Dari│English│Japanese│Khmer│Korean│Marshallese│
Punjabi│Russian│Somali│Spanish│Ukrainian│Vietnamese
We’ve seen an increasing number of visits to local emergency rooms for cases of influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 in King County. (Check out our comprehensive respiratory data dashboard to track trends for COVID-19, RSV, flu and other respiratory viruses.)
Now’s the time to take easy steps to help prevent you and your family from getting sick. To help keep you healthy this flu and cold season, we’ve dusted off our prevention guidelines we published earlier this fall:
Preventing illness this cold and flu season
Here are some tips to help prevent spreading and catching respiratory viruses:
- Wear a high-quality, well-fitting facemask (such as an N95 or KN95) in crowded areas and indoor public spaces.
- Improve indoor ventilation by opening windows and doors and using air filtration devices.
- Get tested promptly if you have symptoms and get treatment early if you’re eligible (you can order free home COVID-19 tests from the federal government).
- If you’re sick, stay home and away from others, especially away from people who may be at high risk for severe disease. While you might experience mild symptoms, a COVID, flu or RSV infection can be a serious illness for small children, older people, pregnant people, and people with chronic conditions, such as compromised immune systems.
Get vaccinated to protect yourself from severe illness
Vaccinations are the best way to help protect yourself from serious illness from flu, COVID or RSV, and, in some cases, from long-term debilitating complications, like long COVID. This cold and flu season marks the first time there are immunizations for COVID-19, flu and RSV.
Easier to get updated vaccines
Don’t miss out on holiday gatherings, travel, and other important events in your life this season.
Find flu and COVID-19 vaccination
Find locations for flu and COVID-19 vaccination: www.vaccines.gov
No cost COVID-19 vaccination
When the updated COVID-19 vaccine first came out, supply was limited. But now it’s easier to get, and it will protect you from the variants that are spreading now. Most insurance covers the full cost, and if you don’t have insurance, you can get no cost vaccination at Bridge Access Program locations.
Locations include:
- Public Health’s Kent Vaccination Clinic for updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots for the whole family, ages 6 months and older. Drop in or by appointment. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30-6, with Park & Vax in your car on Wednesdays. More information: kingcounty.gov/vaccine
- CVS, Walgreens, and many Community Health Centers. SeaMar has drop-in vaccination (check ahead to see if children’s vaccine is available): www.seamar.org/covid-vaccine
Many other locations at www.vaccines.gov/ (Spanish: www.vacunas.gov).
Looking for COVID-19 vaccine for babies and children?
- No cost vaccination for babies and children 6 months and older at:
- Public Health’s Kent Vaccination Clinic: kingcounty.gov/vaccine
- Snoqualmie Valley Hospital has drive-through vaccination by appointment on Wednesdays and Fridays. snoqualmiehospital.org/covid-19
- Free clinics with ALL the vaccinations required by schools and also COVID-19 and flu shots for families who live in South King County, or don’t have insurance, or are living homeless, or have recently moved to the U.S. and don’t have a medical provider. See the list of “Back to School Clinics” at kingcounty.gov/findaclinic
RSV vaccine update
- RSV vaccine is available for people 60 years and over.
- An immunization for infants was approved, but supply is low. The federal government prioritized the limited doses for infants at the highest risk. Fortunately, if you’re pregnant, you can get RSV vaccine between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy to protect your infant after birth.
- Ask your provider or pharmacist if RSV is right for you.
- RSV vaccine is available at CVS and Walgreens.
Respiratory virus data dashboard
Public Health created a comprehensive respiratory data dashboard to track the trends of COVID-19, RSV, flu and other respiratory viruses. The dashboard includes data from emergency department visits, laboratory test results, flu deaths, and flu outbreaks in long-term care facilities. These data points help us track the changes in virus activity in the community. The dashboard may also be a useful tool for healthcare providers to monitor the prevalence of respiratory viruses and to inform strategies to reduce the risk and severe outcomes of respiratory viral infections.
About respiratory viruses
COVID-19, flu, and RSV are all caused by different viruses. These viruses all spread in similar ways, which is why they are all called ‘respiratory viruses.’ When someone who is infected with these viruses talks, coughs, breathes or sneezes, tiny droplets of virus spread into the air and on surfaces. When other people breathe in the virus or touch surfaces with the virus on it, they can get sick. The more virus someone is exposed to, the more likely they are to get sick. Because these viruses all spread in similar ways, steps you can take to protect against one can help reduce the risk of other viruses.
We typically expect cases of flu, RSV and COVID-19 to increase in the fall and winter. The current rate of emergency room visits for all three illnesses is lower than the peak levels we saw last season, during what some called the “tripledemic” of respiratory viruses. We’re still early in the respiratory virus season and we expect that flu, RSV and COVID-19 infections will increase during the late fall and winter.
Originally published 12/18/2023.