Dear Tribal Community,
The flu season is upon us! The Puyallup Tribe’s government offices have noticed more people getting sick these past few weeks. Chances are, so have you. Not only that, but pediatric emergency rooms are busy with cases of RSV, a viral disease that can be especially bad in children. Low-level COVID-19 is still out there, too – last week we saw nine cases at PTHA.
The CDC has good information that describes what we’re facing: Respiratory Illnesses | NIOSH | CDC and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) | CDC can tell you more.
My message is simple. Everyone’s situation is different, but in general if you haven’t gotten your flu shot, you should get it. If you haven’t gotten the COVID-19 booster, you should get it. If you have questions, talk to your doctor.
And if you’re sick: Stay home. Don’t go into work or public places and risk infecting others.
Let’s keep everyone safe as we head into the holidays. I hope everyone has a great weekend and a great holiday season.
Dr. Shelton is the Puyallup Tribe’s medical director.
