Reduce chances of getting sick this holiday season

As the holidays approach, your calendar is likely filling up with festive activities. You don't have time to get sick and don't want to miss out on anything because you're not feeling well.

So, what can you do to stay healthy and try to avoid getting a respiratory illness like the flu or COVID-19?

According to Tracey Odachowski, Sentara Health system director of infection prevention and control, you can take several steps to cut your odds of getting sick or getting others sick during the holiday season and beyond. These commonsense tips include handwashing, getting vaccinated and not sneezing or coughing on others.

Why do people get sick during the holiday season?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows COVID, flu and RSV cases rising since October 2023, peaking in early January 2024.

Many reasons account for the rise in sickness during the holiday season, Odachowski says.

• Stress hormones weaken the immune system
• Extra sweets and alcohol consumption during parties affect the immune system
• More people attend more parties and events during the holidays, so more germs are present that can spread
• Travel on planes and trains also creates opportunities for spreading germs in a small, enclosed space

One solution: Keep current with vaccines

Several vaccines can prevent or reduce the severity of respiratory illnesses.

"Vaccines reduce transmission of diseases and lessen the severity of illness should you get sick," Odachowski explains. "No matter when you get a vaccine, you will be more protected after it than before. But they typically take about two weeks to reach maximum efficacy."

Influenza

Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine. The ideal time is by the end of October. But if you missed that timeline, you still should get one.

People at higher risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease. People over 65 years also are at a higher risk for complications.

The flu hit kids hard last year. About 80%of those kids who died were not fully vaccinated, the CDC found. The total number of U.S. pediatric deaths for the 2023-2024 season was 201. The previous high of 199 deaths was reported during the 2019-2020 season.

COVID-19

The CDC advises everyone ages 6 months and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, the CDC recommends a second COVID-19 vaccine for those over age 65 and some immunocompromised people. The second dose can be given six months after the first dose.

You can get up to four COVID tests per household for free to have them readily available for testing.

RSV

Short for respiratory syncytial virus, RSV is a common respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat and lungs. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.

Moms-to-be can protect their babies by getting the maternal RSV vaccine. The CDC recommends vaccination for pregnant moms between 32 and 36 weeks from September through January. The antibodies that pass to the baby in utero will protect babies for six months. The first six months are when babies are most susceptible to severe RSV.

If babies are not protected by their moms, the CDC recommends an RSV antibody for all babies under 8 months. This is not a vaccine. Instead, it's an injectable antibody.

For older adults, three RSV vaccines are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration for adults ages 60 and older in the United States.

Pneumococcal disease

Pneumococcal disease results from a bacterial infection. The bacteria can cause:

• Blood infection
• Ear infection
• Meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord
• Pneumonia
• Sinus infection

The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than 5 years and adults 50 years or older.

Do vitamins help keep you well?

Despite all the ads you see on TV for vitamins, researchers have found insufficient evidence that supplements will prevent or decrease the severity of an illness, Odachowski notes. A balanced diet is what's most important for overall health, she says.

Results from several studies released last year found that taking vitamin C every day to try to prevent colds won't protect most people from colds. Vitamin C can slightly shorten the time you're ill, but only if it's already in your system. Unfortunately, taking vitamin C once you already have cold symptoms won't affect your cold.

What else can I do to try to avoid respiratory illnesses?

Besides vaccinations, most precautions for respiratory sickness are tips you learned long ago.

If you're sick, you can help yourself get better and those around you not get sick by staying at home, for starters.

Other tips:

Careful coughing – Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have one handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.

• Clean and disinfect your surfaces – To remove germs and dirt from surfaces, use household cleaners that contain soap or detergent. Pay attention to frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails and doorknobs. Use a disinfecting product to clean if someone has been sick to curb the spread of germs.
• Handwashing – Wash your hands with soap and water to remove germs from your hands. This goes both ways. You can prevent others from catching a virus from you if your hands are clean. And, if you happen to touch germs, handwashing will keep them from spreading to you when you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can kill these germs.
  
  You can brush up on proper handwashing techniques, which includes washing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Get some fresh air – Germs that spread in the air are magnified in indoor, crowded spaces with poor airflow. Bring fresh air into your home by opening doors and windows and using exhaust fans. Change your air filter in your HVAC system every three months. Hold parties outdoors when it's nice outside.

What about masks?

Masking and handwashing are two of the simplest ways to avoid contracting a respiratory illness, Odachowski says.

"This works for everyone, not just those who are at a higher risk of getting sick," she adds.

Cloth masks generally offer lower levels of protection. Instead, surgical/disposable masks provide more protection.

 

This holiday season, protect yourself and the ones you love through vaccinations and other preventative measures. Talk to your provider about which vaccines are best for you.