The flu has claimed its first Tulsa County victims of the 2020-21 season, the Oklahoma State Health Department reported Thursday.
Three Tulsa County residents, two adults in the 25-49 year age group and one adult in the 65+ year age group, have died of flu-related illnesses since December 2020, according to the State Health Department. None of those deaths occurred within the past week.
Statewide, six flu-related deaths have been recorded in Oklahoma since September.
The Tulsa Health Department said getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever this season as the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season continue side by side.
“Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during this season to protect yourself, your family and your community from the flu,” said Tulsa Health Department clinic manager Ellen Niemitalo. “A flu vaccine this season can also help reduce the burden on our healthcare systems responding to the COVID19 pandemic and save medical resources for care of COVID-19 patients.”
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The flu vaccine is available through the Tulsa Health Department to anyone 6 months old or older at the James O. Goodwin Health Center, 5051 S. 129th East Ave., and the Central Regional Health Center, 315 S. Utica Ave.
Appointments can be set up by calling 918-582-9355 or requesting an appointment online. Masks are required, and clients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
Individuals should not get a COVID-19 vaccination and a flu vaccination at the same time, the CDC recommends. COVID-19 vaccinations should be given at least 14 days before or after other vaccines because there is limited knowledge about the safety and effectiveness of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine with other inoculations.
“It is possible to have flu, as well as other respiratory illnesses, and COVID-19 at the same time,” Niemitalo said. “Flu and COVID-19 can both result in serious illness, including illness resulting in hospitalization or death.
“The flu vaccine can keep you from getting the flu, make the illness less severe if you do get it and keep you from spreading. The more people who are vaccinated, the more people who are protected.”
According to the Tulsa Health Department, there have been 45 flu-related hospitalizations in Tulsa County this flu season. Five Tulsa County residents have been hospitalized with the flu in January. The Tulsa Health Department has administered over 10,000 flu vaccines in the county.
During the 2019-20 flu season, 85 flu-related deaths were reported in Oklahoma.
Related video: Patients can be hospitalized with both COVID-19 and the flu
'We are generally testing for both,' Dr. Guy Sneed said during a Dec. 9 press conference.
Jacob Factor
Breaking News Reporter
A lifelong Tulsa resident, I have worked around Oklahoma covering sports and news. I joined the Tulsa World in 2021 to cover breaking news.
