Focus on Employees

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to serious complications and even death. The best ways to reduce chances of getting the flu are to wash your hands frequently, get plenty of rest, eat healthy, exercise and get a flu vaccination each fall.

To help yourself and others stay healthy during the flu season. Flu vaccine protects people by reducing the risk of getting the flu and reducing the severity of symptoms. Flu shots also protect those who cannot get immunized, such as infants and adults with weakened immune systems, by reducing influenza among their contacts.

Flu is a serious disease, and people of any age can get it. In an average year, the flu causes 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations in the United States. An annual flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) helps protect against flu viruses and usually reduces the chances that you will get the flu.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu

• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications

• about 36,000 people die from flu

The "flu season" in the United States is usually from November through April. Flu season usually peaks in the United States between late December and early March.

Anyone can get the flu, but some people are at higher risk for serious complications when they get the flu including:

• People age 50 and older.

• Young children from birth to 2 years.

• People with chronic heart or lung conditions or whose immune systems have been suppressed.

For a complete list of high-risk groups, visit: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/fluseason.htm#who

Vaccination is also important for health care workers and household contacts of high-risk populations.

The whole body suffers from it. Typical symptoms include:

• Fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, and aching of the head, back, arms, legs.

• Also, may have a sore throat and a dry cough, nausea, and burning eyes.

• Temperature may rise to 104° F, but after two or three days the fever goes away.

• Often the person continues to feel tired and sick for several days.

• Sometimes the person can have complications, such as dehydration or pneumonia.

Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease from a new influenza virus that is unlike past influenza viruses. Because people have not been infected with a similar virus in the past, most or all people will not have any natural immunity (protection) to a new pandemic virus.

There is a vaccine for seasonal flu, which is prepared each season against new variations of the seasonal influenza. There is no vaccine available at this time for a pandemic flu, and it is expected to take at least six months after a pandemic flu appears to develop a vaccine.

More information on pandemic flu is located on the Public Health website at: www.metrokc.gov/health/pandemicflu/

Yes, the county will provide on-site flu shots for King County employees at select locations. A list of these sites is on the Focus on Employees Web site at: www.metrokc.gov/employees/flu.

A full list is available online at www.metrokc.gov/employees/flu or by calling Benefits and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556.

You only need to bring your medical health insurance card. If you do not bring your card, you will be asked to pay $30 for the flu shot. Additionally you will need to fill out a Consent to Treat form. Please fill out Consent and Billing Information. If your provider is Group Health, you will be given a form at the time of your flu shot.

How employees will be charged for time taken for worksite flu shots varies depending on worksite, bargaining unit and department. All King County department directors, division managers and supervisors are urged to let their staff to participate in the flu shot program, if possible. However, Employees must obtain approval from their supervisors or managers to ensure normal operations continue.

Contact your Flu Shot Coordinator. In many cases flu shots will be on a walk in, first come first served basis during the hours of the clinic. If you need to sign up, your Coordinator will let you know. If you have any questions, call Benefits and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556 or visit the Flu clinic locations page for KingCare℠, Regence, Pacificare, or the Group Health clinic locations page.

The worksite flu shot program is planned and designed for county employees. Eligible dependents will not be turned away. However the emphasis is on employees and not dependents because often access to worksites is restricted for physical and operational security reasons. We urge dependents to use their regular medical providers for flu shots because of the greater flexibility offered to the dependent in terms of times and services available. A dependent who shows up at a worksite will need identification and his/her health insurance card – dependent costs will be billed to health insurance.

Most benefit-eligible employees will pay nothing for the vaccination. The cost will be paid by your benefit plan.

Regular employees:

• KingCare℠ members – no charge for employees who receive vaccinations received at worksites. No charge for employees and their covered family members who receive vaccinations through Maxim Health Systems clinics or through your primary care provider. See schedule for times and locations during November when vaccinations will be available at worksites throughout the county. Visit www.findaflushot.com or call Maxim’s automated locator system 24/ 7 toll free at (866) 466-2976 to find out where to get a flu shot from Maxim Health Systems clinics through mid-November.

• Group Health members – No charge for employees who receive vaccinations at worksites. See schedule for times and dates during December when flu shots will be available to Group Health members at King County worksites. No charge for employees and their covered family members who receive vaccinations at a Group Health Clinic. $30 for the convenience of receiving the flu shot on-site. For more information about clinic hours, call 800-992-2279 or visit www.mygrouphealth.org.

Deputy Sheriffs:

• PacifiCare - no charge for employees or covered family members.

• Regence – no charge for employees or covered family members.

• Group Health - No charge for employees who receive vaccinations at worksites. See schedule for times and dates during December when flu shots will be available to Group Health members at King County worksites. No charge for employees and their covered family members who receive vaccinations at a Group Health Clinic. $30 for the convenience of receiving the flu shot on-site. For more information about clinic hours, call 800-992-2279 or visit www.mygrouphealth.org.

This year, Public Health employees will participate in the flu shot program for all King County employees. You may receive vaccine at any of the King County flu clinic locations by presenting your insurance card, or you may receive vaccine for free at one of our Public Health immunization clinic locations.

As an Adult and Juvenile Detention employee, you need to check with your manager/supervisor about the specific times, dates and places that shots will be offered to you. If you cannot make any of your department sessions, you can get a shot at one of the designated county flu shot sites. Please check with your supervisor/manager and the Focus on Employees Web site for the nearest location. See the Flu Shot Program home page to find KingCare℠, Regence, Pacificare, or Group Health clinic location pages.

To facilitate the coordination and administration of flu shots, sites were chosen where at least 100 employees are available and the site has available private room(s) or office(s) that can be used to give shots. If you do not see your worksite listed, please select a site that is convenient for you.

In most cases, yes. Contact the Flu Shot Coordinator in the other location to make sure it is okay and what the procedures are in that building

Yes. The worksite flu program is strictly voluntary. If you choose to go to your provider you will receive the benefits provided for under the preventive benefits program.

Regular employees:

• KingCare℠ members — you and your eligible dependents: free shots (Aetna processes the claims submitted by your health care provider)

• Group Health members — you and your eligible dependents: free shots (Group Health processes the claims)

Deputy sheriffs:

• Regence Blue Shield members — you and your eligible dependents: free shots (Regence Blue Shield will be billed)

• PacifiCare members — you and your eligible dependents: $5 copay – your benefit plan covers 100% of costs after the copay.

• Group Health members — you and your eligible dependents: $7 copay – your benefit plan covers 100% of costs after the copay.

All health information is subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, and all precautions will be taken to ensure your confidentiality is protected. The Visiting Nurse Services, Group Health and others are bound by HIPAA laws to protect your rights and privacy of medical information. This includes information on receiving a flu shot. So your health information is protected and secured, confidential and only available to you and the plan administrator - not your manager, not the county. Additionally key staff members, including the flu shot coordinators, will be trained on HIPAA procedures and requirements.

Group Health providers will provide shots to Group Health subscribers. All other employees will receive shots from Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest (VNS). VNS is a premiere provider of flu immunization in the greater Puget Sound area. All VNS flu clinic staff are licensed nursing professionals supervised by registered nurses. Flu clinic policies and procedures are based on the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Yes, King County employees can use Public Health clinics for flu shots. However, Public Health clinics do not bill private insurance so King County employees will be asked to pay $25 for the flu shot. Benefits eligible employees can request a receipt and follow the correct procedures to seek reimbursement from KingCare℠(Aetna). Group Health, PacifiCare and Regence will not reimburse as these organizations are Health Maintenance Organizations and do not reimburse for shots not conducted by their networks. Most immunization visits are by appointment only. For clinic information and locations, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/clinics.htm.

Public Health employees are an exception. They can get a flu shot for free at Public Health clinics covered by Public Health’s Occupational Safety and Health Program.

All employees are encouraged to get flu shots from Visiting Nurse Services or Group Health currently administering flu shots at select worksites at King County. Additionally employees are encouraged to see their primary care providers for flu shots.

For more information on the worksite flu shot program, go to our home page.

The best time to get vaccinated is from October through December, though vaccinating in January and even February will still protect you for much of the flu season.

Vaccinations are usually offered throughout the flu season as long as vaccine is available. Once you get vaccinated, your body makes protective antibodies in about two weeks.

Vaccination last year is unlikely to protect against the flu this year because flu strains are different from one year to the next. Also, a person's immunity from the vaccination declines over the year.

Most people have little or no reaction to the vaccine.

One in four might have a swollen, red, tender area where the vaccination was given. A much smaller number, more children than grownups, might also develop a slight fever within 24 hours and many have chills, headache, or feel a little sick. People who already have a respiratory disease may find their symptoms worsened. Usually none of these reactions lasts for more than a couple of days.

Adverse reactions to the vaccine have been observed in some people. These could be due to an egg protein allergy, since the egg in which the virus is grown cannot be completely extracted. These people should be vaccinated only if their own physician believes it necessary and if the vaccine is given under close observation by a physician.

A vaccination encourages the body's immune system to develop and immunity to the influenza virus types in the vaccine. Influenza vaccines are made yearly, so they contain influenza viruses expected that year. Someone vaccinated cannot get influenza from the vaccine. For more information visit www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/fluseason.htm

The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. See our Myths & Facts About the Flu page for more information.

Almost all people who get flu vaccine have no serious problems from it.

Possible side effects:

• Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given

• Fever (low grade)

• Aches

Once you are vaccinated, your body makes protective antibodies in about two weeks. When the "match" between vaccine and circulating strains is close, the vaccine helps prevent influenza in about 70%-90% of healthy people younger than age 65 years.

Flu Mist, (live, attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV]) is a flu vaccine that was licensed in 2003. It is different from other licensed influenza vaccines (often called “the flu shot”) because Flu Mist contains live but weakened influenza virus and it is sprayed into the nostrils rather than injected into the muscle. Live influenza vaccine viruses rarely spread from person to person. Even if they do, they are not likely to cause illness.

Both Group Health and Visiting Nurse Services will provide “flu shots” with inactivated influenza vaccine, but Flu Mist will not be provided at the onsite King County flu shot clinics in 2007. Those interested in a Flu Mist vaccination should consult with their primary care physician or one of our Public Health immunization clinics. Flu Mist provides another option for people who are age 2-49 years and not pregnant, who choose to get a flu immunization but who don’t want to have an injection.

Flu Mist is approved for children and adults from 2 through 49 years of age.

Persons who should not be vaccinated with Flu Mist (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine) include:

• Persons under age 5 years or 50 years and older

• Persons with asthma, reactive airway disease or other chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems

• Persons with other underlying medical conditions, including such metabolic diseases as diabetes, renal dysfunction and hemoglobinopathies

• Persons with known or suspected immunodeficiency diseases or who are receiving immunosuppressive therapies

• Children or adolescents receiving aspirin or other salicylates (because of the association of Reye syndrome with wild-type influenza infection)

• Persons with history of Guillian-Barré Syndrome

• Pregnant women or

• Persons with a history of hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis) to any of the components of LAIV or to eggs

Yes, the vaccine used by Visiting Nurse Services (VNS) contains a very small amount of thimerosal. The vaccine that is used by VNS is made by Sanofi Pasteur, licensed in the U.S. by the Federal Drug Administration. If you want a thimerosal-free vaccine, consult your health care provider. Your provider might suggest you receive the FluMist® vaccine, a live, attenuated influenza vaccine. FluMist® is a thimerosal-free option for certain healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49. For more information about the live attenuated influenza vaccine or FluMist®, go to www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm.

Employees may also get FluMist at a Public Health immunization clinic or their KingCare℠(Aetna) provider. For Public Health immunization clinic location information, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/clinics.htm