As Washingtonians head for of one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, people are already getting sick with the flu, COVID, and more. Local healthcare workers say demand is rising for immunizations to protect against getting sick ahead of the holidays. "In the past week or so, we've definitely been seeing the flu shots, especially, go back up," said Matt Binder, co-owner and pharmacist of Ostrom's Drug and Gift. Michelle Lundeen got both the flu and COVID-19 booster shots on Thursday evening at Ostrom's Drug and Gift, a family-run pharmacy in Kenmore. She said she is deliberately choosing to get the protection during this vulnerable time of year. Referring to last holiday season's Omicron wave, she said, "I don't want that again." After a trying few years, she added that, for her, getting vaccinated is personal. "I lost my very, very, very favorite nephew," said Lundeen. "By the time she got him to the ER, he had a 104 temperature and he was in full-blown COVID, and he was just... unfortunately there was just no saving him." She added, "Actually I've been chastising myself for taking so long to get it done." But it seems she is not alone. Ostrom's Pharmacy has been giving out about 450 shots a week, according to Binder; a considerable increase since the week before Thanksgiving. Read the full story here: https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/demand-rises-for-flu-covid-vaccines/281-edf076a0-c742-42e1-91eb-7d51ae3c3863