King County expects ample supply of flu shots

All King County residents seeking influenza vaccinations this season should be able to get them. The county is receiving more flu-vaccine doses, and earlier than usual.

Children 6 months to 19 years of age should get the vaccine, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recently expanded recommendations.

Vaccine manufacturers worked with the CDC to expand the supply in recent years, said Nicole Sadow-Hasenberg, spokeswoman for Public Health — Seattle & King County. About 150 million flu shots are expected nationally this year, she said.

The vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women, people over 50, people with certain chronic medical conditions, nursing-home residents, health-care workers and people who live with or take care of children younger than 6 months old.

The vaccine is the best way to prevent seasonal flu, which usually includes symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat and a severe, lasting cough, according to the public-health department. Flu also can put patients at risk for serious bacterial pneumonia.

Instead of injections, some health-care providers and pharmacies offer FluMist, a nasal-spray version of the vaccine available to healthy people between 2 and 49 years old.

The public-health department charges $15 for children's flu shots, $30 for adults' shots and $34 for the mist version. Children's fees can be subsidized through the government-funded Vaccines for Children Program.

More information on influenza, vaccination locations and prices and CDC recommendations can be found at www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/fluseason.

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com