WA sees deadliest flu season in years
The number surpasses the 2017-2018 season by 92 deaths.
According to the weekly flu report from the Washington State Department of Health, most people who have died were older adults or had pre-existing conditions.
Currently, the health department says flu cases are low in the state.
Why is there such an uptick?
The King County Health Department told the Seattle Times that the problem is twofold:
First, this year's strain of the flu is stronger than usual.
Second, flu vaccination rates were down about 3% last year.
About 30% of Washingtonians got the shot this year.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
09-07-2025
- Axios
Washington faces billions in Medicaid cuts under spending bill
Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians will lose health care coverage because of Medicaid cuts included in the spending bill President Trump signed last week, Gov. Bob Ferguson warned Wednesday. The big picture: Nationwide, the legislation will cut Medicaid funding by an estimated $930 billion over 10 years, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis. Catch up quick: The new law — which Trump has called the "big, beautiful bill" — also increases immigration enforcement funding and extends tax cuts. Among other changes, the legislation will impose new work requirements for Medicaid recipients. By the numbers: Ferguson's office estimates at least 250,000 Washingtonians will lose Medicaid coverage under the law's provisions. Another 150,000 will no longer be able to afford plans on the state insurance exchange, due to the ending of certain federal subsidies, he said. Hospitals — both urban and rural — will close due to the loss of Medicaid reimbursements, the Democratic governor said. What they're saying: "It's difficult to overstate how devastating these cuts will be to Washingtonians," Ferguson told reporters Wednesday. "They will bring our health care system to the brink and harm people in every corner of our state." State of play: An analysis by KFF, a health policy research group, estimated the legislation will cause Washington to receive about $41 billion less in federal Medicaid funding over 10 years. That's roughly 19% less than the state would have received without the law, the outlet found. The fine print: Trump's tax and spending package also included a one-year moratorium on Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. That provision is on hold for now, due to a federal court ruling. But, if it were to go into effect, Ferguson said Wednesday that he would direct $11 million in state money toward backfilling Planned Parenthood's lost Medicaid dollars in Washington. The other side: U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane), who voted for the law, issued a written statement praising its efforts to "rein in the wasteful spending Washington has ignored for too long." The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Wednesday.
UPI
02-07-2025
- UPI
20 states challenge HHS' transfer of Medicaid data to DHS
July 2 (UPI) -- California and 19 other states have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Department of Health and Human Services permitting the Department of Homeland Security "unfettered access" to individual Medicaid health data, raising fears it could be used as part of President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans. According to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the states are asking the court to declare HHS' transfer of Medicaid data to DHS, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was unauthorized and enjoin its use for the purposes of immigration enforcement. They are also seeking to prevent any further sharing of Medicaid data. "The Trump administration has upended longstanding privacy protections with its decision to illegally share sensitive, personal health data with ICE," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. "In doing so, it has created a culture of fear that will lead to fewer people seeking vital emergency medical care." The lawsuit states that on June 13, the plaintiff states learned that HHS had transferred to DHS en mass Medicaid files from California, Illinois and Washington. The states said the data transferred was personally identifiable, not anonymized and included Medicaid beneficiaries' immigration status and addresses among other information. According to the lawsuit, HHS provided neither the states nor the Medicaid beneficiaries with warning or notice of the transfer and the department has not identified the legal authorities under which it shared the personal Medicaid data with DHS. HHS has said, the lawsuit states, that it gave the information to DHS "to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them" but Congress has permitted coverage and federal fund for emergency Medicaid to all residents of the United States, including those without immigration status. Among the consequences of the sharing of this information is that it could lead to noncitizens disenrolling or refusing to enroll in emergency Medicaid, which they are eligible for, thereby denying them healthcare they may need. "The Trump administration's use of Washingtonians' private health information for its own political agenda is outrageous," Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a statement. "This is a violation of trust for everyone whose data was inappropriately shared, but especially our immigrant communities and mixed-status families, who are already being targeted by the Trump administration.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Fred Meyer and Washington State Collaborate to Provide Free Locking Bags to Prevent Opioid Misuse
Locking Bag Pharmacy conversation Olympia, Washington, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Customers at Fred Meyer's 60 pharmacies in Washington now have access to free locking bags to more safely store their opioid prescriptions. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is collaborating with the retailer to provide the bags as part of an ongoing effort to help prevent opioid misuse and overdose deaths in Washington's communities. Fred Meyer is the first major pharmacy chain to participate in HCA's Lock Up Your Meds safe storage program. The safe storage program supplies participating Washington pharmacies with free medication locking devices to distribute to patients with opioid prescriptions. Among the only of its kind in the nation, the program is part of the statewide Starts with One campaign to prevent opioid overdoses by increasing the safe use, storage, and disposal of opioid prescriptions. "As part of our commitment to helping people live healthier lives, we're proud to participate in this program and provide free locking bags to patients with opioid prescriptions—empowering safer communities through compassionate care and responsible pharmacy practice," said Kayla Hensley, division health leader at Fred Meyer. In Washington, approximately 82% of overdose deaths involve opioids (2023 overdose data). Nearly half of people misusing pain relievers, including prescription opioids, get them from a friend or family member. Simple steps like locking up prescriptions can help prevent both accidental and intentional misuse and potential overdose. Yet, according to a study conducted by HCA, only 44% of Washingtonians surveyed lock up their prescription medication. Providing people with a way to lock up their medications is just the first step toward changing this behavior. When a customer is given a locking bag through the Lock Up Your Meds program, the pharmacist asks them to make a pledge to lock up their opioid prescriptions. This aspect of the program is based on the research-backed idea that when someone makes a personal commitment—or a pledge—to take a specific action, they are significantly more likely to follow through. Fred Meyer has distributed a total of 713 bags, held 1,000 conversations about the importance of medication safe storage, and secured 485 pledges since it was introduced to its stores in May. 'Pharmacies play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe and informed,' said Dr. Charissa Fotinos, State Medicaid and Behavioral Health Medical Director. "We are grateful for this new relationship with Fred Meyer and for their commitment to educating residents about preventing opioid misuse and for promoting responsible medication use at their stores across Washington.' Approximately 10-17 independent pharmacies have participated each year in the four-month annual program since it started in 2020. Since its inception, there have been a total of 1,827 locking devices distributed, 3,435 patient conversations about opioid safe storage, and 1,914 pledges to lock up medications. 'This exciting relationship with Fred Meyer allows us to meaningfully expand this important evidence-based program, creating new opportunities to reach communities in all corners of Washington with life-saving opioid misuse prevention tools that are critical to reducing overdose deaths in our state,' Fotinos said. According to evaluation data, the program is successfully driving behavior change. In 2023, 95% of participating patients said that the information and resources provided through the Lock Up Your Meds program had a direct impact on how they store their medication at home. The program is funded in part by State Opioid Response (SOR) funds, which are federal grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help states combat the opioid crisis. Learn more about the Lock Up Your Meds and Starts with One campaign. Contacts: HCA media relationsHCAMediaRelations@ Tiffany SandersCorporate Affairs Manager, QFC & Fred Meyer Divisions of Esther BrownLock Up Your Meds Program Managerestherb@ Contact Info Annie Groomannieg@ 509-280-8257 Attachments Locking Bag Pharmacy conversationSign in to access your portfolio
