It's flu season in Arizona. Here's what to know about symptoms and vaccines
As chilly weather sets in and some Arizonans plan to spend time with loved ones during the holidays, the end of the year usually comes with a downside: flu season.
If you have experienced a sore throat, headache, muscle ache and fever, odds are you may have caught the flu, a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Just a few weeks away from the state's typical spike in flu cases, which usually happens between mid-November and mid-December, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Center for Disease Control are encouraging people to take care of themselves and make sure to get their flu shots.
According to Dr. Karin Raman, the Department's director of public health preparedness, the number of flu and RSV cases so far this year was much higher than average, but it was only about half of what had been reported through this time of the season last year.
Here's what you need to know and how to stay safe.
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What are the symptoms of the flu?
The flu can cause mild to severe symptoms. In cases of preexisting conditions or weak immune systems, it can lead to hospitalization or even death.
Older people, children, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious flu complications.
According to the Department of Health Services, symptoms of the flu include:
Fever (usually high).
Dry cough.
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Sore throat.
Runny or stuffy nose.
Headache.
Extreme tiredness.
Muscle aches.
Stomach symptoms — such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea — also can occur but are more common in children than adults.
According to the Department, the best way to avoid the flu is by getting a vaccination every year. Luckily, there are many options, most of them free or covered by insurance companies, for Arizonans out there.
Where can I get a flu shot in metro Phoenix?
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health, in partnership with various organizations, was hosting multiple vaccination events per week — sometimes multiple per day — for several adult vaccines including COVID-19 and flu shots.
To find an event or set up an appointment you can check the department's event at maricopa.gov/5659/Vaccine-Locations.
People who need assistance or have questions about the events can call the department CARES Team at 602-506-6767.
To find more flu shot clinics near you, you can use the vaccine finder at vaccines.gov/find-vaccines.
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How much is a flu shot without insurance?
For all Maricopa County Department of Public Health vaccination events, immunizations are free for people who do not have health insurance.
At other Arizona locations, the vaccine usually costs $25-$50.
How safe is the flu vaccine?
According to the Department of Health Services, the vaccine is not just safe but also the best way to prevent illness and complications related to it.
Everyone 6 months and older who does not have severe allergies to the vaccine components can get vaccinated. Even if you do not have a condition that puts you at high risk for complications from the flu, the Department still suggests you get a vaccine to avoid infecting those who do.
According to Raman, the flu shot has been updated to target the flu strains that have been circulating in recent years.
"I would highly recommend that everybody go and get their flu shot for the season to protect themselves and protect their family," Raman said. "It's a great tool in our tool kit to fight against the flu in the coming weeks."
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that protect against influenza virus infection develop. Flu vaccines do not protect against illnesses that feel like the flu but are caused by non-influenza viruses.
According to the Department of Health Services, it is also safe to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time.
The flu shot is particularly important for people who are at high risk for complications including children aged 6 months or older, adults older than 50, pregnant women, immunocompromised people and people with chronic medical conditions.
The department also suggests people who live or care for those at high risk for complications from the flu, such as health care workers and caregivers, get a vaccine as soon as the vaccine becomes available each year.
Who can't get a flu shot?
People who should not get the flu vaccine include:
Children younger than 6 months.
People with severe, life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in the vaccine. This might include gelatin, antibiotics or other ingredients.
You should also consult with your healthcare provider before getting a flu shot if you have any of the following conditions:
Allergies to eggs or any of the ingredients in the vaccine (formaldehyde, thimerosal, aluminum salts, gelatin and antibiotics, such as gentamicin or neomycin.)
If you have had Guillain-Barré syndrome.
If you are not feeling well, talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
How can I avoid getting the flu?
In addition to getting a shot, there are some other common sense practices that can be key in preventing the flu. Here are some that Raman suggests:
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Stay home when sick.
Wash your hands regularly.
Disinfect surfaces you touch a lot, especially if you've been out and about.
Stay aware of what influenza levels in your community are.
"Keeping in mind those common sense precautions is really going to take you far in protecting yourself, not only from the flu but other respiratory viruses as well," Raman said.
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What should I do if I do get sick with the flu?
if you have the flu, you should take care of yourself at home, get plenty of rest and make sure to stay hydrated and eat well, Raman said. Other recommendations include:
Stay home from work or school and away from others.
Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Wash your hands often to protect other people.
Cover your coughs and sneezes by using your elbow or a tissue and wear a mask while in public to help prevent droplet spread.
Most people who get the flu will recover in a few days, but some people will develop complications that may be very severe. People with no chronic medical conditions may also suffer from complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, ear infections or sinus infections that require additional medical treatment.
If you believe your symptoms are too strong or more prolonged than normal, the department advises people see a doctor.
How long are you contagious with the flu?
People can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.
What causes the flu?
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person by droplets produced when people cough, sneeze or talk. People may also become infected by touching surfaces with the flu viruses on them and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
Every year around mid-November and mid-December, there is usually a spike in flu cases in the state. According to Raman, the department's director of public health preparedness, the number of flu and RSV cases so far this year is much higher than what was seen in 2020 and 2021, with about 333 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases as of Oct. 28. Only 20 had been reported by the same date in 2020 and 22 had been reported in 2021.
However, compared with last year's data, this year's case count is significantly less, with 521 laboratory-confirmed cases reported through Nov. 5 in 2022.
Raman said the total cases of influenza and other viruses significantly reduced in 2020 and 2021 due to distancing practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic and then later rebounded as a result of people getting together again.
"Our flu patterns and other respiratory illness patterns, including RSV, were all affected by people changing their behavioral patterns in terms of not getting together with others and being out of the community, giving less of a chance for some viruses to be caught," Raman said. "Last year, as we saw with our flu and RSV, that came back quite strongly."
She also explained the spike that is seen toward the end of the year every season happens due to a variety of factors including weather and spending more time around family and loved ones.
"When the weather gets cooler, people tend to spend time indoors, and also if you couple that with the holidays that come up, people gather in groups," Raman said. "That gives these viruses a chance to spread between people."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Where can I get a flu shot in metro Phoenix?
