This is the second of two articles on preparing for respiratory illnesses heading our way this fall. Last week's Weekly Wellness article focused on whooping cough and RSV.
With calendars full of school events, work meetings, sport outings and family gatherings, health care experts remind us that all that togetherness also includes an uptick in flu and COVID cases.
"In the next few months, we see people begin to congregate for fun activities, but that also brings some unwanted illnesses to the table," said Lauren Bryan, infection prevention program manager at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center.
There are some basic steps you can take to keep yourself and your family healthy.
Below, Bryan outlines similarities and differences between COVID and influenza.
How to prevent it: The new, updated COVID vaccine protects against the latest variant and is available now. Anyone over the age of six months can get it. It takes about two weeks for your body to produce antibodies to provide protection.
If you had COVID over the summer, Bryan said to wait 60 to 90 days before getting the vaccine.
"People are worried about the risks associated with the vaccine, but every study shows that the risks from getting the disease are far higher," she said.
Bryan also recommends that pregnant women get the vaccine as they are more likely to have severe illness than non-pregnant women, in addition to the risks of miscarriage or stillborn birth if they get COVID.
When to get help:
Paxlovid can be prescribed within the first five days of the illness to decrease its severity and lower the risk of hospitalization and potential long COVID.
Symptoms: Fever, aches, chills, fatigue, cough and headache. Influenza is different than the common cold in that the symptoms come on quickly and typically don't include a stuffy nose, sneezing or sore throat.
Who can get it: Anyone.
How to prevent it: The vaccine is your best bet against the flu and is available now for everyone over the age of six months. Pregnant women will want to get the vaccine by the end of October to provide them the most protection during the upcoming flu season, as well as allow them to pass along some antibodies to their newborns.
This year's vaccine has been adjusted to fight against the current circulating strain, as medical researchers look to Australia, which has a winter opposite that of North America, to see the prevalent flu strain there to help tweak the vaccine.
"Our immunity wanes, so it's good to get a flu shot every year," said Bryan. "It's not the same old vaccine -- it's been modified and tweaked."
When to get help:
Tamiflu can be prescribed to some patients within the first two days of flu symptoms to shorten the course of the illness and decrease the risk of hospitalization and other complications.
"I think a lot of people think, 'I haven't had the flu in years,' or, 'I never get sick.' But flu increases the risk of other health issues" said Bryan. "Plus, it's a miserable experience. Who wants to use your PTO days for something like this? Save them for your vacation and get the vaccine."