Providence family medicine physician Dr. Lauren Burton shares who is most at risk this season and simple steps to help keep your household healthy
Fall brings crisp mornings, busy school schedules and the first holiday plans of the season. It’s also the perfect time to give your family a healthy head start for the months ahead.
Influenza A and B, COVID-19 and RSV typically begin circulating this time of year. The good news is that a few simple steps, taken early, can go a long way toward keeping everyone healthy.
“Every flu season is a little different and there’s no way to know exactly what this year’s will bring,” says Dr. Lauren Burton, a family medicine physician at Providence Medical Group Snohomish Clinic. “That’s why getting vaccinated in the fall, ahead of the holidays, is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family.”
“Flu before Boo”
Flu shots are recommended for nearly everyone 6 months and older, and getting one by Halloween gives the body time to build protection before flu season peaks over the holidays.
Most insurance plans cover seasonal vaccines and children under 19 can receive them at no cost through Washington’s Childhood Vaccine Program.
Costs for adults can vary between pharmacies and clinics, so it’s worth a quick call ahead.
Extra care for those who need it most
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has become increasingly recognized as a serious illness for older adults, not just young children.
Each year, an estimated 110,000 to 180,000 adults 50 and older in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, while infants and toddlers remain among those hit hardest.
The good news is that protection is now more widely available. RSV vaccines are recommended for everyone 75 and older, as well as adults 50 to 74 with certain health conditions.
Expecting mothers can receive an RSV vaccine between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to pass protection on to their babies. Newborns whose mothers didn’t receive the vaccine during pregnancy can get a protective antibody shot of their own.
Beyond RSV, adults 65 and older, even those in great health, are wise to stay up to date on their seasonal vaccines, as are smokers and people living with immune, lung or chronic conditions such as COPD or diabetes.
Everyday habits that work
Some of the most effective habits outside of vaccinations are also the simplest.
Washing hands often, especially before holding an infant, goes a long way. Burton suggests keeping hand sanitizer in the car or purse, wiping down shopping carts before use and giving doorknobs and light switches a quick clean at home.
Coughing into your shoulder and wearing a mask when you’re under the weather are easy ways to keep germs from spreading.
Know when to check in with your family doctor or nurse practitioner
Most colds can be managed at home with rest, warm fluids like broth or tea and, for anyone older than 12 months, a spoonful of honey to soothe a sore throat.
It’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor if you notice trouble breathing, difficulty eating or drinking, a fever that doesn’t ease with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, or symptoms that return after you’ve started to feel better.
“If you’re in a higher risk group, testing early and letting your doctor know gives you the most options,” Burton says. “Treatments for COVID and flu work best when they’re started soon after symptoms begin.”
Schedule your flu shot at your local Providence clinic or pharmacy before the holidays to help protect yourself and the people you love this season.
To learn more or find a Providence Medical Group physician near you visit providence.org. Follow Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Facebook @ProvidenceSwedishNorth.
