Seasonal Influenza
Get your Flu Vaccine at the Riley County Health Department:
- Walk-ins are welcome or you can also schedule an appointment by calling us at (785) 776-4779 ext. 7675.
- Flu Vaccine Registration:
- Paperwork (Print & Fill): English or Spanish
- Bring your Health Insurance Card, if you have health insurance, or bring a copy of your card (BOTH FRONT & BACK).
- Location: Clinic Services (lower level), 2030 Tecumesh Road, Manhattan, KS 66502
About Influenza (flu)?
- Seasonal influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Who is at Higher Risk of Flu Complications?
- Some people, including the elderly, young children, and those who are immunocompromised or have certain health conditions, are more vulnerable to severe complications.
Symptoms & Diagnosis:
- It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.
- Click here for more information about flu symptoms, complications, and diagnosis.
Prevent Flu:
- Vaccination: The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year. Flu Vaccine Information Sheet
- Preventative Actions: Take everyday preventative actions to reduce the spread of flu, such as, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, wear a mask, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw the tissues in the trash after use, washing your hands often with soap and water, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and disinfect surfaces often. Click here for more preventative actions you can take.
Flu Vaccine Available at the Riley County Health Department - 2021-2022 Flu Season
- Fluarix traditional flu vaccine
- High Dose those 65 years of age and older
- Flublok for those 18 years of age and older. Egg free.
A yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. The Riley County Health Department recommends everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions, get their flu vaccine before the end of October, if possible. Please keep in mind, it takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protects against flu.
Only a quadrivalent (four-component) flu vaccine will be available at the Riley County Health Department. The flu vaccines we carry are inactivated, preservative-free (no mercury), and given in the muscle.
Seasonal influenza (flu) is not a reportable disease in Kansas, and because of this, tracking rates of illness and the burden of illness in Riley County is difficult.
The Riley County Health Department uses syndromic surveillance to monitor influenza-like-illness (ILI) - a combination of symptoms related to having the flu - throughout the county.
The flu season typically lasts from late September - May. RCHD collaborates with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment's (KDHE) Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics and partners statewide to monitor trends and share information on preventing flu and responding to illness.
Statewide influenza data can be found on KDHE's influenza surveillance webpage.
If you test positive:
- Persons confirmed to have influenza are required to stay home for seven days following the onset of symptoms per Kansas regulation.
- According to CDC, persons with influenza are considered infectious for 5-7 days after becoming sick.
- Avoid close contact with sick people, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands often (with soap and water), and clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with flu viruses.
- The flu virus can "live" on some surfaces for up to 48 hours.
- If you become sick, limit contact with others as much as possible.
- Remember to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw tissues in the trash after you use them.
- Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before resuming normal activities.)