Tulsa Health Department Offers Free Flu Vaccines Amid First Seasonal Deaths
The Tulsa Health Department has begun offering flu vaccinations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with many available for free or at low cost depending on health insurance coverage. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has reported the first influenza-associated deaths in Tulsa County for the 2020-2021 flu season.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over six months of age, with high-risk individuals strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. These include pregnant women, young children, seniors, and those with chronic health conditions. The vaccine can prevent flu, reduce severity if contracted, and prevent virus spread. So far this season, over 10,000 flu vaccines have been administered in Tulsa County.
Symptoms of the flu can include fever or chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache, and runny or stuffy nose. The flu and COVID-19 can both result in serious illness, hospitalization, or death, and it's possible to have both illnesses simultaneously. The CDC recommends getting a COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at least 14 days apart.
The 2019-2020 flu season resulted in 85 deaths and 3,580 hospitalizations in Oklahoma. Since September 1, 2020, there have been 149 influenza-associated hospitalizations statewide, with 45 in Tulsa County. The reported deaths occurred between December 2020 and mid-January 2021, with none within the past week. It is crucial to get vaccinated to protect yourself and others from the flu.
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