The holiday season is just around the corner, but with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with this year’s flu season, there are new factors to consider beyond Thanksgiving dinner, side dishes and holiday decorations.
Small household gatherings are a common way that COVID-19 has continued to spread and a way that flu can spread as well. For this reason, the CDC recommends limiting family gatherings this holiday season to just the individuals that you live with.
However, if you do plan to celebrate with others in person, it’s important to take the necessary steps to prevent COVID-19 and flu. When it comes to planning a gathering ahead of the holidays in 2020, there’s a lot to keep in mind – some of these things include physical distancing and following other CDC guidelines for safe holiday celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One more important step you can take is to receive your flu vaccination before the holidays. It’s just one more thing you can do to protect yourself and your family this holiday season.
Here are three reasons to get the flu vaccination before the holidays.
1. If you’re spending the holidays with loved ones.
It typically takes about two weeks after vaccination for the flu vaccine to be effective, so getting it now will help to ensure that you’re protected from the flu before heading into the holidays. It’s important to take all precautions seriously when it comes to getting sick.
The CDC recommends that anyone over the age of six months old get the flu vaccine, and stresses that the vaccine is particularly important for people who are at high-risk of serious complications from influenza. For those who cannot receive the flu vaccine, such as infants younger than six months of age, flu vaccination of those who will be in close contact with them plays an important role in protecting these vulnerable loved ones from the flu.
2. If you’re traveling outside of your community.
Getting a flu vaccination is the single-best preventative measure you can take to protect yourself and others from getting the flu, even more so if you choose to travel outside of your community this holiday season. As we’ve seen with COVID-19, it’s very easy for viruses to spread from one community to another when people are susceptible to the disease.
When traveling, it’s advised to pay special attention to you and your family’s health, practice physical distancing, and to be vigilant in hand washing and cleanliness. When you return home, be sure to closely monitor your health for flu-like and COVID-19 symptoms. Learn more about the similarities and differences between Flu and COVID-19 symptoms here.
3. If you’re considered at high-risk for flu complications.
Along with many health organizations, the West Virginia Immunization Network encourages individuals considered high-risk to be especially careful during the holiday and flu season. These individuals include, young children under the age of five, adults over 65, and individuals with a chronic disease, weakened immune system or are extremely obese. For a complete list of those considered at higher risk for complications from the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/. Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent flu and hospitalization from the flu-related complications.
Where to get a flu shot
Flu vaccines are available at doctors’ offices, hospitals, community health centers, school-based health centers, free clinics, health departments, pharmacies, and, in some cases, by employers. Most insurance plans cover childhood and adult vaccines. However, if you or your family have lost health insurance, there may be programs available to help you get the flu vaccine. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federal program that provides vaccines for children 18 years of age and younger who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian or Alaska Native. For help finding a local health care provider who participates in the VFC program, ask your child’s health care provider or contact a local health department.
For adults who do not have insurance or whose health insurance does not cover the flu vaccine, free vaccines will be available at community health centers and local health departments.
Flu vaccination, hand washing, wearing a mask or face covering and physical distancing will help reduce the spread of the flu and COVID-19 in our communities and homes this holiday season.
For more information about the flu and flu vaccination, talk to your health care provider or visit www.cdc.gov/flu.