Community

Spectrum Health Web Site Provides Flu Season Info

Flu season is underway in West Michigan and Spectrum Health is ready.

Spectrum Health has important information about the flu, including a comprehensive list of its community flu serum distribution opportunities, posted at www.spectrum-health.org/flu.

This year’s flu vaccine will offer protection against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus in addition to two other flu viruses that are expected to be in circulation this fall and winter. For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that everyone older than six months be vaccinated for the flu.

“Essentially, everyone older than six months should plan to get the flu vaccine this year,” said David J. Dobbie, MD, infectious disease specialist, Spectrum Health Medical Group.

The Spectrum Health Continuing Care Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has begun distributing the vaccine at clinics throughout the community. The current schedule of flu clinics is posted at www.spectrum-health.org/flu or by calling 616.486.3939.

The vaccine will also be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week at the five Spectrum Health Urgent Care locations in Grand Rapids. Locations can be found at www.spectrum-health.org/urgent.

The cost of this year’s flu vaccine injection is $30 at VNA clinics and $35 at Urgent Care locations. VNA also offers a flu mist nasal inhaler as an alternative to the injection for $35. Preservative-free flu shots are available through VNA by calling 616.486.3939 to schedule an appointment. Pneumonia injections are also available for $55. All locations can bill a number of insurance programs, many of which cover some or all of the cost of the vaccine.

Current patients can make an appointment with their Spectrum Health Medical Group or mmpc primary care provider to receive the vaccine.

With the early onset of flu season this year, people experiencing flu symptoms should stay home to avoid spreading the flu.

“Most symptoms can and should be treated at home. Only the most severe illnesses should require a visit to an Urgent Care location or emergency room,” Dobbie added. “It will take anywhere from five to 10 days for the illness to run its course. For most people who contract the flu, they should try to stay home, rest, drink plenty of liquids and take acetaminophen or an anti-inflammatory medicine.”

To avoid getting the flu, Spectrum Health recommends:

  • Get your seasonal flu shot. Visit spectrum-health.org/flu for a list of clinics.
  • Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
  • Avoid contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet.  

Symptoms include:

  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Fever (sometimes) – a temperature greater than 100° F or 37.8° C
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea (sometimes)
  • Vomiting (sometimes)  

Individuals experiencing these symptoms who become concerned about their illness should call their primary care physician for advice. Urgent Care locations and emergency rooms should be used only for people experiencing the following:

In children:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • So irritable the child doesn’t even want to be held
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
  • Fever with a rash

In adults:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting

The CDC recommends that individuals stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. The fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. If a person must go out in public while sick, they should wear a facemask if possible, wash their hands to keep from spreading germs, and cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or cloth (not their hands).

More information can be found at spectrum-health.org/flu.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of eight hospitals and more than 170 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart—physician groups totaling more than 500 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 580,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $79.4 million in community benefit during its 2009 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.