With influenza activity still low in early October, Clark County’s deputy health officer says now is the time for residents to roll up their sleeves.
“The best time for everybody and residents in Clark County to get their flu shot is right now,” Dr. Brianna da Silva Bhatia, deputy health officer for Clark County Public Health, said. “When you get a flu shot, it takes a couple of weeks to trigger protection in our body, and so by getting a flu shot now before we see a lot of activity, all these folks who got their flu shot will already be protected.”
The 2024-25 flu season was one of the most severe in recent years, Bhatia said, echoing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nationally, the CDC classified it as a severe season — the worst since 2017-18 — with an estimated 43 million symptomatic infections, 560,000 hospitalizations and at least 38,000 deaths.
Clark County reported 43 influenza-related deaths last winter, the highest in at least a decade and five times the number reported the previous year. Last year’s predominant strain, influenza A, also played a role in the season’s severity.
“That’s devastating,” Bhatia said. “We don’t fully know or understand why flu is more severe in certain years, but we do know that the majority of people who died in Clark County were not vaccinated for flu.”
Local vaccination rates have been trending downward. According to data from the Washington State Department of Health, only 27.9% of Clark County residents received the flu vaccine during the 2024-25 season, down from 30% two years prior. The statewide rate was about 30.5%, while national estimates show 46.7% of adults and 49.2% of children were vaccinated.
Bhatia said vaccination remains the most effective tool against influenza, especially for high-risk groups such as seniors, people with chronic illnesses and those with compromised immune systems.
“It’s recommended for folks aged 65 and above, and also people with other chronic conditions,” she said. “These folks have immune systems that need a little bit more support.”
High-dose or “boosted” vaccines are available for older adults and those with underlying conditions. But Bhatia emphasized that getting any flu shot is better than waiting for a special version.
“At the end of the day, we just want people to get vaccines in arms,” she said. “If they’re not able to come back, it is better to get the regular dose vaccine than no vaccine at all.”
In addition to getting vaccinated, Bhatia reminded residents that simple health habits can make a big difference.
She added that staying home when sick, washing hands often, and covering coughs remain essential ways to slow transmission. Masks can also help limit the spread in crowded indoor settings, she said.
“It’s preventing the spraying of germs out of our mouth and nose, and that helps to contain our germs into our own little bubble.”
For households with vulnerable members, Bhatia said protecting loved ones starts with ensuring everyone around them is vaccinated.
“Healthy people are important folks for transmitting,” she said. “Maybe you or I get the flu and we have very mild symptoms, but we’re spreading it to our grandparents or our pregnant sister-in-law.”
Flu shots are available at most pharmacies and primary care offices throughout Clark County. Residents can also ask about free or low-cost options through public health clinics and local healthcare providers.
Bhatia added that this is also an ideal time to update other vaccinations, including COVID-19 and RSV. “It’s time to get vaccinated for everything,” she said. "For people aged 6 months and older, we’re recommending the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and for [some] pregnant people and [older adults], the RSV vaccine is also available.” Readers should contact their physician to learn if they're eligible.
As the 2025-26 flu season approaches, Bhatia hopes residents take steps early to protect themselves and those around them.
“The flu shot works,” she said. “It reduces the severity of illness, helps you avoid getting the flu, and reduces transmission in the community. It’s going to keep kids in school, keep parents at work, and help prevent severe disease.”
Readers can visit doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/flu to learn more about the flu vaccine and activity in Washington.
