Flu season persists across the Pacific Northwest, expected to last at least through the end of March. It’s not too late to take precautions. But if you do end up with the flu, there are more options than ever for getting fast, affordable care.
“Some people seek care for the flu at hospital emergency rooms, which is generally not the most efficient or affordable,” says Mark Mariani, MD, a physician executive with MultiCare’s Retail Health division. “Most people can be treated quickly through their primary care doctors, urgent care clinics, online virtual visits or our new house call service.”
MultiCare’s Puget Sound clinics can assess your symptoms, determine the best path for treatment and get you on your way quickly.
Options for care
- Schedule a same-day appointment with Indigo Online Care.
- Drop in (or schedule ahead online) at any of our 48 urgent care clinics, Immediate Clinics or Indigo Health clinics — open seven days a week.
- Visit the Online Care page or download the app for an online visit with a doctor, seven days a week.
- Request a home visit from our new DispatchHealth house call service — available seven days a week in the Tacoma-Pierce County area. We accept all major health insurance in Washington state. Request care online or call us at 253-271-9720.
Protect against the flu
The best protections are frequent handwashing and getting a flu shot. The flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu by about 50–60 percent. There’s still time. The flu shot is effective as long as flu viruses are circulating.
Everyone older than 6 months old should get the flu shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), particularly those at higher risk:
- Children younger than 5 but especially younger than 2
- Adults 65 and older
- Pregnant women
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Native Americans
- People with certain medical conditions
Where to get flu shots
Visit your local pharmacy to schedule your flu vaccine. Indigo does not offer the flu vaccine in our clinics at this time.
Additional protections against flu
- Avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
- Avoid touching your eyes and nose, as this is how flu viruses spread.
Flu symptoms
Typically, flu symptoms develop quickly and can include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Nausea or vomiting
If you get the flu, take steps to feel better.
- Stay home and rest.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Treat fever and cough with over-the-counter medications for comfort.
- Avoid close contact with family members so you don’t pass on the illness.
If symptoms don’t improve, seek care.
Seek care promptly if:
- You have a cough, fever or other flu symptoms that don’t improve.
- You are pregnant, over age 65 or otherwise at high risk of flu-related complications.
More serious signs of a significant flu infection include difficulty breathing, inability to drink enough fluids and irritability in children. Patients with any of these symptoms should seek treatment immediately.
