Get a flu shot this fall
Pictured: Dr. Eric J. Chow, MD, MS, MPH
Dear King County Employee,
In the past year, with so many people staying home, social distancing, and masking up, we saw relatively little flu circulating in Washington State. Now with mask mandates lifted in most settings and many people resuming in-person activities, we are likely to see flu activity ramp up this season. It’s especially important for every person to be protected before it starts to spread in our area to give your body time to build immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that, with rare exceptions, everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year, including pregnant and nursing people. Today I am asking you to get yourself and those living in your household vaccinated by the end of October.
Why flu vaccination is so important
For young children, older adults, pregnant people, people with conditions that compromise their immune systems, and even healthy people, a flu vaccine can be lifesaving.
Flu vaccination prevents millions of flu illnesses and medical visits, tens of thousands of flu hospitalizations and thousands of deaths from flu in the United States each season.
In addition, flu and COVID-19 share many symptoms and it can be complicated to distinguish between the two. Get your flu shot to prevent flu illnesses that may be confused with COVID-19 and result in unnecessary testing, treatment, or isolation.
Wearing a face mask, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette will also help to prevent spread of the flu and other respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
Getting a flu shot is easy
The county makes it free for employees and anyone covered by your benefits to get a flu shot at one of our onsite clinics, or at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy. The Balanced You team is again organizing free onsite flu shot clinics for those workers onsite. More information including the on-site flu clinic schedule can be found here. Benefits-covered employees who are telecommuting and their covered family members may find it more convenient to go to their healthcare provider’s office or a local pharmacy for their free flu shot. Learn more about how to get a flu shot through your provider or local pharmacy.
I want to reassure you of several things:
- The flu vaccine is safe – you will not get the flu from the vaccine.
- The flu vaccine is effective – it reduces your likelihood of getting the flu. Some people who get vaccinated may still get the flu, but the vaccine will help reduce the severity of your illness and your chance of needing hospitalization. When you get a flu shot, you also help prevent flu from spreading to others, especially those who are high risk for serious illness because of their age or medical conditions.
For those of you getting the flu shot onsite at work, the Balanced You team is working on cleaning and sanitation, masking, and other protocols to ensure the experience is safe. On behalf of your partners in Public Health, we thank you for taking this action.
Thank you,
Eric J. Chow, MD, MS, MPH
Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunizations, Public Health – Seattle & King County
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King County Security Tips: Vishing
Cybercriminals not only use the internet and email to gain access to sensitive information, they use telephones to their unlawful advantage. Vishing is the term for criminal attempts to influence action or gain confidential information over the phone using social engineering.
How it Works:
Criminals have the ability to call from a blocked, “spoofed,” or private number, making it easier to pose as a fellow employee, an authority figure, or any person or organization that you would commonly interact with.
Any information regarding the processes or technologies a company uses would assist in a breach of an organization. Information that you may not consider very sensitive, such as employee names, titles, or ID numbers, could certainly help these criminals.
Don’t Fall for These Phony Attempts
Think twice about giving out personal information to someone who claims to be from a different organization, or within your organization, unless you initiated the call yourself and you are certain the number called was valid. If someone contacts you requesting sensitive information, you can check the caller’s validity by asking to speak to their supervisor, or tell them you will call back, which will buy you time to investigate the request.
Vishing is not limited to gaining data from King County, as vishers are also known to prey on your personal information. Remember to stop, look, and think before answering unfamiliar numbers, or before calling phone numbers you see in emails, internet ads, or pop-ups.
For more information, contact kcitcsat@kingcounty.gov.
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Making Life Easier Benefit: Childcare and Parenting Resources
As parents are preparing for the new school year, it’s likely there is a to-do list that is piled high. Making Life Easier (MLE) provides a free childcare and parenting resource for King County employees that includes unlimited calls and instant messaging for resources and referral assistance for kids from birth to age 16.
Childcare consultants can offer resources to support parents in a number of situations like finding emergency back-up care if your school closes, volunteer opportunities for teens, play groups for infants/toddlers, and preschool recommendations.
Consultants can also search for a variety of resources for children with special needs, such as in-home caregivers, financial guidance, testing and assessment resources, and schools for exceptional children. Learn about all the parenting resources available and how to access them here.
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Husky football ticket discount for King County
Husky Football is excited to offer local government employees discounted football tickets to four great matchups this fall.
- Portland State – Saturday, Sept. 10
- Stanford – Saturday, Sept. 24
- Arizona – Saturday, Oct. 15
- Colorado – Saturday, Nov. 19
Click here to purchase tickets or for more information about other games, flex plans, season tickets, and group discounts.
See all available King County employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Retirement plan contributions to change Sept. 1
Employee and employer contribution rates for retirement plans will change on Sept. 1, 2022, as approved by the State Legislature.
The state Pension Funding Council adjusts contribution rates as needed to fund the retirement benefits earned by members. Click here to see the new contribution rates.
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New approach by King County Regional Homelessness Authority featured in Washington Post
King County was featured this week in a Washington Post article on innovations to improve the accuracy of data on the homeless population in our area. The article documents a new method being trialed by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) for counting unsheltered populations, and also features a report from the King County Department of Community and Human Services that analyzes integrated data hubs to better identify gaps between systems serving our most vulnerable neighbors. Better data will mean more effective solutions for people experiencing homelessness. Read more.
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Search and Rescue team airlifts injured hiker
A team from the King County Search and Rescue team recenlty were caught on video airlifting an injured hiker off Cathedral Rock mountain. The hiker had a broken ankle and was not able to continue without assistance.
Kudos to the team of deputies involved: Joshua Sweeney, Alexander Paul, Anthony Mullinax, Keith Potter, Robert Clarkson, and Peter Linde.
According to a thank you email from the injured hiker, she is successfully recovering back home in California and doctors say she should be able to finish the trail next year. Click here to watch the rescue video.
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Free Youth Transit Pass starts Sept. 1
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today the one-week countdown to the Free Youth Transit Pass at a celebration and rally with advocates, young leaders, families, and officials who were champions for the change. King County will also join regional transit agencies in lowering ORCA LIFT fares to $1. Read more.
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King County Elections receives national recognition
King County Elections was honored by the Election Center, the National Association of Election Officials, in the organization’s annual Professional Practice Paper Awards for 2022.
The Election Center’s Professional Practices Program is a celebration of best practices from jurisdictions around the country and the U.S. Territories. Read more.
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Washington State Fair discounts for King County employees
Employees can save on tickets to the Washington State Fair, Sept. 2-25. Click here for instructions on how to purchase your discount tickets. Once you log in to the Corporate Perks portal, your discount pricing will be unlocked. There is no need to enter an additional discount code.
See all available King County employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Employee News 