The vaccine and other healthy habits

It’s about time to start preparing for fall. Does that even seem possible? With fall and cooler weather comes the much dreaded flu season. What can you do to be prepared this year?

‍Vaccination recommendations

The best way to avoid the annual flu is to get vaccinated. The vaccine has been updated to fight the most common flu viruses this season. You’ll want to get the vaccine in September or October before the flu starts spreading to your community. 

Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get vaccinated. The vaccine can provide some protection against the flu, but more importantly, it can also protect against more serious cases. For people who have an egg allergy, be sure to call this out to your physician. You can still receive a shot but may need a unique vaccine. 

‍Reducing the spread of the flu

In addition to getting vaccinated, you can follow some healthy habits to reduce the spread of the virus. 

  • Stay home when you are sick. We’ve all heard this but it’s so important. If you aren’t feeling well, STAY HOME. You don’t want to spread any type of illness to your friends, family, coworkers, or those you meet in public. 
  • Keep your distance. When you are sick or if you are caring for someone who is ill, keep your distance. You want to reduce the spread of germs to those you love.
  • Cover your nose and mouth. Be sure to teach children this at a young age. If you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with your elbow. When you cough into your hands, you often rub those germs on other surfaces.
  • Clean your hands. Follow good hand washing practices. Soap and water are always preferred but hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be substituted when necessary.
  • Practice good eating habits. Be sure to eat a well balanced diet and consume lots of fruits and vegetables to help your body stay healthy to fight off illness.
  • Get proper sleep. When you are tired and run down, it is harder for your immune system to fight off sickness. 

‍Clean your work area

At both school and work it is important to keep a healthy work area. Be sure to clean off your space and disinfect the area properly. Don’t forget highly touched areas like keyboards, light switches, door knobs, and phones. Disposable disinfectant wipes are easy to use to clean these areas. You can properly clean these surfaces in less than a minute providing improved protection for you and those around you.

Each winter we need to take steps to be prepared for the flu season. When these steps are taken earlier in the fall, we are more prepared and hopefully reduce the spread of the virus. Do your part so that you can experience better health during the cooler months. If you are needing to set up an appointment for a flu shot in September, Healthstar Physicians is taking new patients and is here to support your family. From primary care to specialty needs, our team can provide you top quality medical care. We take most forms of insurance and have offices across East Tennessee.