It’s officially Fall! With the changing season, we can expect cooler temperatures, changing leaves, lots of pumpkin spice, and of course, the dreaded sneezing, sniffling and coughing.

Cold and flu season is on its way. Here are some things you can do to prepare.

Get your flu shot - One of the best ways to help keep the flu away from your home is to make sure your whole family gets a seasonal flu vaccine. Beyond the standard flu vaccine, there is also a high-dose version for seniors to help them have a better immune response. People with mild egg allergy (rash) can receive a standard flu vaccination. There is also an egg-free vaccine (recombinant) for those with more severe egg allergies.

Be strict about washing hands - Germy hands spread colds and the flu. Tell your family to scrub their hands well with soap for 20 seconds. Tell kids to wash for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Make sure you do it, too!

Stock up on supplies - Be ready before cold and flu season starts. Load up on tissues, hand soap, hand sanitizer, and paper towels. Have extra masks on hand, as they’re proven to protect against the spread of viruses. Consider picking up a few distractions like puzzles, books or movies.

Disinfect - You don’t need to spend all day spraying every surface with disinfectant. You may want to disinfect some heavily touched items like doorknobs, remote controls, and phones each day.

COVID-19 and the Flu

COVID-19 symptoms are similar to those of bronchitis, the common cold and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). If you have symptoms, you should get tested, isolate and call your provider. Find a free COVID-19 testing site near you.

Get a COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at helping protect against severe disease and death from variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, including the Delta variant. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is one simple thing you can do to make sure you’re keeping yourself and the people around you safe. Learn more at COCovidVaccine.org.

Have questions about your health? Contact your Colorado Physician Partners practice today.

Our practices have care coordinators who can assist you in navigating the health care system and can connect you with medical and non-medical services. Learn more about care coordination.