As flu season worsens, vaccine begins to dry up
MUKILTEO, Wash. -- Washington is among the 47 states on the front lines of a massive flu outbreak.
Making the situation more frightening, clinics, doctors and pharmacies across the country are beginning to run out of the flu vaccine. That's making it difficult for some of the most vulnerable people -- children -- to get the help they need.
It's all about supply and demand, and the Everett Clinic's Pediatric Center was a hotspot on Tuesday after getting its hands some vaccine. The clinic opened a half day flu clinic for kids only.
You know the flu season is bad when even a 5-year-old girl like Olivia understands why prevention is better than treatment.
"I'm getting a spray in my nose," Olivia said. "Because I don't want to get sick."
Olivia and her grandmother made the haul from Lake Stevens to Mukilteo because the Everett Clinic was the only spot they could find available flue vaccine.
"We've been very busy this season," said Dr. Jack Stephens. "We actually added in an extra 33 patients yesterday because of illness, so we are seeing lots and lots of sick kids."
The Everett Clinic has given out 50,000 flu shots this season, which is the most in the clinic's history. Officials say they keeping giving the shots as long as the supply lasts.
Six people in Washington have already died because of the flu this season, and Stephens said he thinks it's so bad because too many people opted not to get a flu shot. Now vaccine suppliers are running out of the meds.
"When it is so prevalent in the community, you are going to get exposed," Stephens said.
There is still flu vaccine available in our state, and you can find out where you can get the shot online.
Making the situation more frightening, clinics, doctors and pharmacies across the country are beginning to run out of the flu vaccine. That's making it difficult for some of the most vulnerable people -- children -- to get the help they need.
It's all about supply and demand, and the Everett Clinic's Pediatric Center was a hotspot on Tuesday after getting its hands some vaccine. The clinic opened a half day flu clinic for kids only.
You know the flu season is bad when even a 5-year-old girl like Olivia understands why prevention is better than treatment.
"I'm getting a spray in my nose," Olivia said. "Because I don't want to get sick."
Olivia and her grandmother made the haul from Lake Stevens to Mukilteo because the Everett Clinic was the only spot they could find available flue vaccine.
"We've been very busy this season," said Dr. Jack Stephens. "We actually added in an extra 33 patients yesterday because of illness, so we are seeing lots and lots of sick kids."
The Everett Clinic has given out 50,000 flu shots this season, which is the most in the clinic's history. Officials say they keeping giving the shots as long as the supply lasts.
Six people in Washington have already died because of the flu this season, and Stephens said he thinks it's so bad because too many people opted not to get a flu shot. Now vaccine suppliers are running out of the meds.
"When it is so prevalent in the community, you are going to get exposed," Stephens said.
There is still flu vaccine available in our state, and you can find out where you can get the shot online.
Hoaxes are kind of funny. Especially when i don't fall for them.
The flu vaccine, although not perfect, can help prevent infection against the flu. You canNOT get the flu from the flu vaccine. It is normal to have a couple days where your body may feel headache, sore throat, low grade fever, or runny nose. This is GOOD. It means your body is building up immunity against the flu. It does take 2 weeks to build up a full immune response after receiving the flu vaccine. AND, can we please stop calling them "FLU SHOTS" and call them "FLU VACCINES"!!!!! The FluMist can be just as effective as the flu shot. (Check out the head to head studies in children.) When KOMO reported 50,000 flu shots were given at the Everett Clinic, I believe they meant flu vaccines. Currently, there are thousands of free flu vaccines available for children 6 months-18 years old through the WA Vaccine For Childrens program. Just call your child's pediatrician, they can order it from their local health jurisdiction. Get vaccinated against the flu! The strains in the vaccine are a very good match to the strains that are currently circulating in the community...we are not always that lucky!
So why do people still get the flu after getting the shot? It because they formulate the shot with certain strains of the flu, strains they think will be most prevalent in the coming flu season. If you get the shot and still get sick it's because you came in contact with a strain that that shot doesn't protect against and one your body hasn't come in contact with before. Flu shots are available in October, why are people waiting so long to get them? How about you save up all summer so your kids can get the shots in October and be protected instead of freaking out in the middle of the flu season and finding that you waited too long and all the shot are gone.
It seems that a lot of people that get the flu shot get the flu. A lot of people that don't get the shot don't get the flu. I eat bananas almost every day and I never get the flu!
 @Kommon I used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day and never got the flu. I guess the cigarettes protected me? Something to do with the smoke perhaps?
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Correlation and causation are different things.
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Having said that, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating well, as well as exercising good hygiene, DOES give you some level of protection against the flu. It all adds up...
People need to learn what the flu actually is. The flu does NOT cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. Likewise, there is no such thing as the "stomach flu." Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems are caused by other viruses, bacteria, or parasites. The most common causes of these are Norovirus and Rotovirus. Both of which are highly contagious.Â
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The flu or influenza is a respiratory disease that effects the respiratory system. Hence why it will often lead to pneumonia and bronchitis. The body aches and fever associated are an autoimmune response to your body fighting the infection.Â
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There is absolutely no reason to believe this crap that the media is spewing. It is nothing but fear mongering. Hospitals in WA are NOT overwhelmed and the flu vaccine is not in short supply. There is no epidemic of the flu in WA this year. The only abnormality is flu season started a little earlier than normal.Â
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The flu shot can prevent you from being sick. Nothing will protect you from the other viruses though. Hand washing and proper hygiene will prevent you from being sick.Â
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Illnesses enter your body through your mucous membranes (eyes, ears and nose).Â
I'm a compulsive hand washer, use hand sanitizer when I can't wash, got a flu shot and STILL got the flu. Explain that one.
 @Esther Easy....."oversanitizing" removes your exposure to germs for long periods of time. Your body has no way to gradually build immunity to the germ. When the germ finally gets into your body, you have ZERO defense against it, and you get sick. As far as the flu shot goes? If "science" isn't 100% accurate with their serum, you just paid "Big Pharm" $25 to get sick anyhow.
Shades of the swine flu 'epidemic' 4 years ago. Weird...
Start taking everything these people advise and you will always be sick.
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Drink lots of water, get some consistent exercise, and wash your hands a lot. Done.
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Complications from the flu are what causes someone to die.  If you treat the complications, or don't allow them to take hold, you win.  Sinusitis(sinus infections), Bronchitis, or even Pneumonia are the complications, and which arise with an infection of bacteria growing in a nice warm place, your body.  If you don't allow it to grow, your symptoms can be over in less than 3 days. Â
Once you start feeling the crud,Â
Take recommended dosage of -
Nasal decongestant - keeps your passages clear and free.  As long as you keep blowing your nose.  Don't allow bacteria to grow, blow your  nose!  Don't sniff! Â
Guaifenesin - keeps your lungs clear. Â If the draining mucus from your nose is coughed out before bacteria can grow, you win. Â
Tylenol or Ibuprofen - Â for the fever as needed.
Dextromorphan - relaxes the lungs for cough suppression.
Cough drops - split in half or thirds, take as necessary.
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Get your immune system healthy.  Add some fruit and veggies to your diet.  Keep hydrated.  Check for Vit D levels.  Most NW people are deficient.Â
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I haven't had a flu shot in 23 years, and I'm not dead.
So what's the point of brining your sick family member into a clinic? So that they can infect everyone else? Seems like too many people run to the doctor when they have something like this, and end up infecting other people. Perhaps you can call for a prescription, otherwise.. you ride it out.Â
Last week, they said that flu season was waning. Now it's ramping up and there's a VACCINE SHORTAGE!!!!!! Better hurry and get those shots sheeple before it's all gone!!!
 @Wolfen Who said this last week, exactly?
 @sims  @Wolfen I believe that would be KOMO.
 @Wolfen It's considered "homework" to ask someone to quote their source? Looks like you've pretty much outed yourself by not being able to answer for your own comment.
 @sims  @Powderhound I can find it. Can you? Do your OWN homework, and DON'T just search THIS particular website :) Happy hunting.
 @Powderhound It was recounted that this happened last week, specifically.
 @sims Sorry, can't find it. I remember reading something to that effect a few weeks ago, don't remember who said it. I'm sure someone will find it for you, I have work to get done.
 @Powderhound Where/when was this stated, then?
Seems to me that if you were expecting an epidemic you would increase production of a product. This is getting to be a yearly thing where they hipe everyone up about the flu shot and then announce a shortage of vaccine. Sounds like some manipulating going on to me.
@Jatok It takes months to grow the vaccine, so if it runs out due to an abnormal amount of cases it would be tough to catch up.
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Where was it said that anyone expected an epidemic this year, exactly?
@sims They have been saying for a good two months that it's going to be a "bad" flu season and now that they've declared it an epidemic as usual they are running out of vaccine. I've been around enough years and seen enough of this type of hype year in and year out to draw my own conclusions. You don't go into a "bad flu year" with low reserves of vaccine. Good common sense anyway you look at it. Believe what you want.
My entire family gets the flu shot every year, and we never get the flu. This year is the exception. We all got so sick with the flu. So when then they say there are so many sick people this year, because "too many people opted not to get the flu shot" that bothers me.
 @lots of opinions I'm sorry, I have a hard time understanding your point. You're upset because you cot the flu shot and got sick? Or you're upset because you didn't get the shot and got sick, and you're mad because other people got you sick?  hard to tell...  Most people are too clueless to understand what the flu actually is. 9 times out of 10 on these comments, people describe the "flu" as the norovirus, or a bad cold.  Just in case anyone doesn't know.. the flu is not a stomach flu. It's severe body aches, high fever, headache, dry cough, and sometimes sore throat. Â
@DT @lots of opinions We had the flu, not Norovirus. High fever, chills, body aches, etc. My kids looked like death. It was scary, though we did get through it. We all did get the flu shot this year. Â I was not upset about getting sick (though it was not fun) Just think it is irritating that they blame not having a flu shot for the reason people are getting sick. Still can get it with the shot.
 @lots of opinions Well, since you had it you're immune from that strain now whereas people who opt for the shot year after year don't build their body's natural immunities.Â
 @DT  @lots of opinions If you have ever had the flu, you would know.  You feel like you got hit by a truck and are going to die.  That being said, you get over it and go on with your life.  The six people that died weren't that fortunate.  You can get complications from almost anything and die.  Many people have C-sections or some other surgery and get and infection from the hospital and die.  These people may not have died from the "flu".  If they hadn't contracted the "flu" perhaps they would not have die.  Maybe they would have died from something else.  You can go around and around on this one.  Healthy people should not die from the "flu".  If you want to get a shot, get one if you don't , don't.