Respiratory Illness Season Resource Center

COVID-19 is still circulating in communities and can still cause serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

People with certain medical conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Everyone should prepare for potential increases through the fall and winter and take preventive action to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19.

How it spreads: COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch. Learn how COVID-19 spreads and the factors that make risk of spread higher or lower.

Treatment: If you or a loved one have a fever, cough or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 or were exposed to someone with COVID-19, we recommend that you schedule a Virginia Mason Franciscan Health virtual urgent care visit today, visit one of our Urgent Care clinics, or contact your primary care provider to be assessed for COVID-19. 

We no longer provide COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic patients who require COVID-19 testing for travel or work at our Urgent Care locations. Those patients will be referred to their primary care provider or may purchase an at-home testing kit at a local retail pharmacy.  COVID-19 testing is available at most of our primary and specialty care clinics by appointment. Please call ahead for more details.

If you test positive for COVID-19, treatments are available and should be taken early. The FDA has authorized certain antiviral medications to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who are more likely to get very sick.

Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. People 65 years and older, young children, pregnant people, and people with certain health conditions are at higher risk of developing serious complications from flu infection.

How it spreads: Flu can spread by breathing in droplets carrying virus from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Flu may also spread by people touching a contaminated surface or object that has flu virus on it, then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Treatment: Flu can be treated with antiviral drugs your doctor can prescribe when illness is caught early.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that usually causes mild cold-like symptoms like cough, runny nose, and low-grade fever. It can also cause wheezing. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially in babies and children under 5 years old and in older adults. Severe infections can include bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) or pneumonia (infection of the lungs). RSV can also worsen conditions like asthma. RSV can be prevented by vaccination in older adults, vaccination in pregnant persons, and by preventive antibodies in neonates and infants during their first two RSV seasons.

How it spreads: RSV can be spread through coughs, sneezes, direct contact with the virus (like kissing the face of a child with RSV),and touching contaminated surfaces.

Treatment: While there’s no specific treatment for RSV infection, you can take over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to relieve symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Talk to your health care provider before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines. Call your health care provider or visit one of our Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Urgent Care clinics if you or your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or experiencing worsening symptoms.

Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Handwashing can prevent one in five respiratory infections, such as colds and flu, and one in three diarrhea-related illnesses.

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• After using the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea 

Washing your hands the right way removes more germs.

Follow these five steps every time:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. 
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. 
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. 
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. 
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

An annual flu shot protects against the three flu strains most likely in circulation this season. If you get the flu, your flu shot may help reduce the severity of your symptoms.

• Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. 
• Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.  Those at higher risk of developing serious complications include people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.
• Vaccination is very important for healthcare workers, people who care for children, and caregivers of those at high risk of serious illness, as well as people living in multigenerational households.

Visit the CDC website for more information on who should and should not get the flu shot.

• People who have  severe allergies to any ingredient in a vaccine, including flu vaccine (other than egg proteins). This might include gelatin, antibiotics, or other ingredients.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• Children younger than six months of age.

Talk to your health care provider before getting a flu shot if: 

• You are feeling sick, talk to your provider about your symptoms .
• You have a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), talk to your provider about your GBS history to decide whether the vaccine is right for yo

Visit the CDC website for more information on who should and should not get the flu shot.

Flu shots are offered at retail pharmacies across Washington and are available at most Virginia Mason Franciscan Health clinics across the Puget Sound.You may request a flu vaccine during a pre-scheduled appointment with your primary care provider or make an appointment to get a flu shot at one following Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion locations offering Flu Vaccine Clinics this Fall:

• Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion - Bainbridge Island
• Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion - Bellevue
• Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion - Edmonds
• Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion - Federal Way
• Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion - University Village

2024 Flu Vaccine Clinic dates: The above locations will offer flu clinics  by appointment only on the following Saturdays: Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, and Oct. 26. 

How to schedule a 2024 Flu Vaccine Clinic appointment: 

If you are a Virginia Mason patient and already have a My VirginiaMason patient portal account, please schedule a “Flu Vaccine Clinic” appointment online through the  MyVirginiaMason patient portal or call 866-832-6633. 

Please note: 

• Scheduled Flu Vaccine Clinic appointments are required to receive a flu shot at a Saturday flu clinic. No additional vaccines will be administered at a flu clinic appointment. Flu vaccines will not be administered to family members without an appointment. No walk-ins accepted. 
• The flu vaccine is not provided at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Urgent Care clinics. 

• Flu Guide for Parents (CDC)
• Flu Guide for Pregnancy (CDC)
• If you’re ill and need medical attention, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has primary care, women’s care and urgent care clinic locations throughout the Puget Sound. And if it’s after hours, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Virtual Urgent Care is just a call or click away.
• Visit cdc.gov/flu for more information on influenza.

• Routine, one-time RSV vaccination of all previously unvaccinated adults age 75 years and older, and vaccination of adults age 60–74 years with specific risk conditions only.
• Adult RSV vaccination can be obtained from community pharmacy retail sites. 

• Newborn babies may be vaccinated before being discharged from their birth center, or at their routine pediatrician appointment post discharge.
• 1 dose of nirsevimab for all infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season.
• 1 dose of nirsevimab for infants and children 8–19 months old who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season.
• Note: A different monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, is limited to children under 24 months of age with certain conditions that place them at high risk for severe RSV disease. It must be given once a month during RSV season. Please see AAP guidelines for palivizumab.

• 1 dose of maternal RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, administered immediately before or during RSV season at a routine prenatal care visit. Abrysvo is the only RSV vaccine recommended during pregnancy.