Flu Information

Where to Get the Vaccine

WakeMed offers several options for getting your flu shot.

• WakeMed Primary Care — for established patients ages 6+
• WakeMed Children’s Pediatric Primary Care — for established patients ages 6 months+
• WakeMed Urgent Care — Walk-in availability for those ages 9+
• WakeMed MyCare 365 — Walk-in availability for those ages 9+

Schedule an appointment through your MyChart portal or call any of our locations listed above.

You can help prevent the spread of flu and colds:

• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use antibacterial gel.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Stay away from people who have the flu or a cold.

If you are sick, stay home.

Staying home from work or school means just that - staying home.  Don't go to the gym, to the mall or to other public places.  If you keep your child home from school, your child should stay at the house. 

Please do not take sick children to dance class, football practice, the YMCA, Scouts, or any other extracurricular activities where illness can be spread among children. Make sure you have a back-up childcare plan in case your child's day care or school closes due to the flu. 

Keep in mind that you can be contagious the day before you experience any flu symptoms.  You continue to be contagious as long as you are symptomatic.  That's why staying home is so important to prevent the spread of the flu viruses.

The Proper Way to Wash Your Hands

When washing hands with soap and water:

1. Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
2. Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
3. Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend!
4. Rinse hands well under running water.
5. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

1. Apply product to the palm of one hand.
2. Rub hands together.
3. Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry. 

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)

The Proper Way to Sneeze or Cough

Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick!

Serious respiratory illnesses like influenza are spread by:

• Coughing or sneezing
• Unclean hands

To help stop the spread of germs, knowing the proper way to cough/sneeze is important:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.

Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.  Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. 

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)

 Symptoms of Flu Virus 

• Fever 
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills 
• Fatigue 

Emergency Warning Signs in Children

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Emergency Warning Signs in Adults

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

Where to Seek Care 

• Primary Care and Pediatric Primary Care — If you need flu testing or treatment during normal business hours, check with your primary care provider first. This is especially true for the very young, those 65+, pregnant women, people with a BMI >40 and people with an underlying chronic health condition, such as asthma or COPD. If you are a higher risk individual, it is a good idea to visit a primary care provider if you think you have the flu. Primary care is typically the least expensive treatment option, and it’s best to work with a physician who knows you, your medical history and medications.
• Urgent Care — Urgent Care locations offer extended hours, most of the time until 8 pm and offer flu testing and treatment. This is a good option if you’re unable to get a provider appointment with your primary care physician or if it’s after regular business hours and your provider's office is closed.
• Emergency Department — Emergency Departments are open 24 hours a day, every day. If your condition is life-threatening or no other level of care is open, visit your nearest location.
• Virtual Urgent Care — Available via our mobile app, virtual care options are available 24/7 from anywhere in North Carolina. While you can’t get tested for the flu virtually, physicians can evaluate you, offer guidance and write prescriptions for nasty symptoms, such as severe cough.