‘Tis the season for family dinners, work parties and cross-country flights, all in the name of togetherness. Unfortunately, it’s also the perfect season for viruses to make their rounds.
The good news is you can improve your odds of staying healthy by using basic infection-prevention methods while you’re partaking in all the festive fun.
“People tend to get sick during the holidays because there’s so much gathering indoors, with not a lot of ventilation,” says Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, director of Infection Prevention at UNC Hospitals. “You can’t prevent all illness, but simple actions can be really powerful in reducing your risk.”
1. Get up to date on vaccines.
Flu and COVID-19 shots are available to virtually everyone age 6 months and older. They can keep you from getting sick and help prevent complications if the virus breaks through. You can get these shots at the same time, and they take about two weeks to reach full efficacy.
“Vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization. And at a population level, vaccines also prevent viruses from continuing to circulate so widely,” Dr. Sickbert-Bennett says. “The more they circulate, the more they adapt and create new variants that can continue to cause more illness.”
Other shots to consider: There is now an RSV vaccine for older adults and pregnant women, and an antibody for babies whose mothers did not get the vaccine during pregnancy. Unlike flu and COVID-19 shots, you get an RSV vaccine once, not every season.
For individuals under 5 or over 50, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a pneumonia vaccine. The recommended schedule varies based on age and risk profile, so ask your doctor what’s right for you or your child.
2. Remember the basics: Wash your hands, cook with care and consider strategic masking.
We can take lessons from living through the pandemic and other outbreaks: frequent hand-washing and covering your sneeze or cough can go a long way to reducing the spread of illness.
“When it comes to meal preparation and shared meals, this is an important infection-prevention measure for all kinds of infectious diseases,” Dr. Sickbert-Bennett says.
Don’t forget to follow food safety guidelines around cross-contamination and storage. Foodborne illness is a surefire way to ruin a holiday.
Finally, consider masking in situations where it can help you and others stay well. Maybe you’re traveling to visit your elderly parents—a mask in the airport and on the plane could keep you from bringing home a virus. If you’ve got the sniffles and aren’t sure whether it’s your aunt’s cat or a developing cold, you can wear a mask to be safe.
3. Make a plan B if someone gets sick.
It can be difficult to change or cancel plans because of a surprise illness, but it’s best not to gather with friends or family when you’re feeling under the weather. This is especially important if the group includes at-risk people: newborn babies, older adults, people with chronic disease, including heart disease or diabetes, or those who are immunocompromised because of cancer or an organ transplant.
“Be very cognizant of your own health and how you’re feeling, and be willing to be flexible,” Dr. Sickbert-Bennett says.
If you’re planning to host friends but come down with the flu, don’t muscle through it only to feel worse and make your friends sick. Reschedule for the next week—or January, when people’s schedules are much less hectic and they might be looking for some camaraderie. Consider refundable travel tickets, if possible, so you have options.
“These years have taught us how precious it is to gather and be together, but also that we have a responsibility to take care of each other,” Dr. Sickbert-Bennett says.
If you have questions about your family’s health, talk to your doctor or find one near you.