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Flu Season Has Arrived
The best time to get flu vaccine is October and November. The flu season is typically between December and March with the peak month varying by year. Contact your usual health care provider for vaccine or check the list of community flu clinics for locations and times.

• Where is flu vaccine offered in Whatcom County?
• Key Facts about Flu Vaccine
• When should you get flu vaccine?
• Wha is the flu?
• Tips to protect yourself and others from flu and other respiratory diseases

Where is flu vaccine offered in Whatcom County?

Contact your usual health care provider for vaccine.

Community Flu Clinics - This list only includes locations provided to the health department.

Flu vaccine may also be available at your doctor's office or pharmacy. A list of community flu clinic locations will also be available at the health department at 509 Girard or the immunization clinic located at 1500 N. State Street.

Key Facts About Flu Vaccine

See the Key Facts About the Flu Vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information about:

• Flu Vaccine Information
• Who should get vaccinated?
• Who should not get vaccinated?

When should you get flu vaccine?

The best time to get flu vaccine is October and November. The flu season is typically between December and March with the peak month varying by year. However, if you miss getting the vaccine by November, get it as soon as you can during the flu season.

For children less than 8 years old who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time, two doses of vaccine are given one month apart. For these children it is recommended that the first dose be in October and the second dose in November.

Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine

It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant. This vaccine is not subject to prioritization and can be given to healthy 5-49 year olds at any time.

What Is the Flu?

Influenza, also known as the flu, is contagious and caused by a family of influenza viruses. It is spread by coughing, and sneezing, as well as touching eyes, nose, and mouth with contaminated hands. The flu is different from a cold. Flu usually starts suddenly and can cause fever, headache, extreme tiredness, sore throat, cough and body aches. Although most of us who get the flu only have to miss a few days from school or work, the flu causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year among the high-risk groups. For more information about the flu, how it spreads, and who are the high-risk groups, see Influenza:the Disease .

Tips to Protect Yourself and Others from Flu and Other Respiratory Diseases

Take the following simple steps to help prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory diseases.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.
• Use a tissue to wipe your nose.
• Stay home to avoid spreading germs if you or your family members are coughing, sneezing or have aches or fever associated with the flu.
• Wear a mask to cover your face in a medical office, if asked.
• For more tips on preventing the spread of germs, see the Preventing the Spread of Germs Fact Sheet

Other Sources for Flu Information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/nip/flu

The Washington State Department of Health Flu News at http://www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews