Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and recommended boosters offers the best protection against serious illness and hospitalization. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Here are some other important ways to keep yourself and your family healthy this fall and winter!
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Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently - washing your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds is one of the best ways to avoid catching the cold, flu, or COVID-19. It's also important to teach children good handwashing. Teach children the five handwashing steps: wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry, and that washing hands after using the bathroom or before eating are key.
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Avoid touching your face - when cold and flu germs get on our hands, we can spread those germs to our nose and mouth and become sick.
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Aim to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development. Getting inadequate sleep over time can raise your risk for chronic health problems.
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Drink wisely - Avoid too many sugary or alcoholic drinks. Drinking alcohol weakens your body's ability to fight infections, increasing the risk of complications, and making it harder to get better if you are sick. View the CDC webpage for additional tips to rethink your drink.
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Exercise - According to the American Heart Association, adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. Muscle strengthening activities twice a week are also important to staying healthy.
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Eat healthy - Lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help keep you healthy. Some nutrients even play a role in boosting the immune system, including those found in carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes. Other healthy foods for your immune system include citrus fruits, fish, eggs, beans and nuts, yogurt, and protein found in meats, beans, and nuts.
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Avoid tobacco - Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free support to help you quit tobacco, when you're ready! Smoking harms the immune system and can make the body less successful at fighting disease. For more information about quitting, visit the CDC's How to Quit Smoking page here.
- Consider wearing a well-fitting high-quality mask when around others, which can help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
Influenza, or "flu" is a contagious respiratory virus that can cause mild to severe illness, and at times lead to death. Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently, but during typical flu seasons, millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes. Unlike COVID-19, the flu can make even young children very sick.
Symptoms of the Flu
- Fever, chills
- cough
- sore throat
- muscle or body aches
- stuffy or runny nose
- headaches
- fatigue
- children may have vomiting and diarrhea
Sometimes, complications from the flu occur and can cause ear infections, and pneumonia, and it can worsen conditions like asthma and diabetes in some people.
How Flu Spreads
- Mainly through tiny droplets made when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets land on the noses and mouths of other people who are nearby. Sometimes these germs can be picked up by touching a surface that has droplets on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
- People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins. It's important to stay home whenever you're sick, especially when you have a fever.
Preventing the Flu
Getting a flu vaccine each year is an important step in preventing the flu. The vaccine has been shown to reduce flu-related illness the risk of serious flu complications. Just as we learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, everyday prevention is also helpful in preventing respiratory illnesses, like the flu. These include frequent handwashing, staying away from those who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and even wearing a face covering can help reduce the chances that you'll get sick with the flu.
Treatments for Flu
Most people who get the flu do not have serious complications and recover within a couple of weeks. While there is no cure for the flu, there are prescription anti-viral medicines that can help a person feel better quicker if they are started right away. Talk with your doctor about the best ways to treat the flu.
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop a couple of weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against flu viruses. You can find detailed information on the CDCs website about flu vaccines!
Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine?
People 6 months and older in the United States should get a flu vaccine each season, with some rare exceptions. This has been the recommendation from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices since the 2010-2011 flu season.
Vaccination to prevent flu is especially important for people who are at higher risk of having serious illness from the flu.
Flu Vaccine Safety:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closely monitor the safety of vaccines approved for use in the United States. CDC uses two primary systems to monitor the safety of flu vaccines:
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about Influenza (Flu) vaccine safety from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Flu Vaccine Safety Page.
For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Larimer County, visit www.larimer.gov/covid19
Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Both viruses are spread through the respiratory droplets of someone who has influenza or COVID-19. Many of the practices to prevent COVID-19 can help prevent the flu. These practices include handwashing and/or using hand sanitizer, staying home when feeling sick, avoiding large crowds indoors, wearing a well-fitting mask, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Compared with flu, COVID-19 can cause more severe illness in some people. Compared to people with flu, people infected with COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms and may be contagious for longer periods of time. To learn more about the similarities and differences between influenza and COVID-19, visit the CDC's website.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 vaccination, please visit www.larimer.gov/covidvaccine.
Appointments are required for all vaccines at the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, including COVID-19. Please call (970) 498-6700 to make an appointment.
Please contact your local pharmacy or primary care provider to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine through your private insurance. Larimer County Health Department does not accept private insurance.
Respiratory Synctial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that can cause mild symptoms similar to a cold. Most people with RSV will recover in a week or two but the virus can sometimes be serious for high-risk groups. Infants and older adults are more likely to get severe RSV and may need hospitalization.
Symptoms of RSV
People with RSV usually begin to have symptoms within 4 to 6 days after getting infected. Symptoms can appear gradually and not all at once. Symptoms usually include:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Decreased Appetite
- Fever
- Wheezing
How RSV Spreads
RSV is spread in the following ways:
- When an infected person coughs or sneezes
- When you have direct contact with the virus, such as kissing the face of a child with RSV
- When virus droplets from a cough or sneeze enter your eyes, nose, or mouth
- When you touch a surface that has the virus on it and touch your face before washing your hands
People with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days and may be contagious a day or two before they start to show any symptoms. Some infants and people with weakened immune systems can spread the virus longer, even after they stop showing symptoms.
Preventing RSV
Vaccines are available for groups that are higher risk for severe illness from RSV. Older adults, pregnant people, and infants may be eligible to receive an RSV immunization.
For people who are less likely to get a severe RSV illness, everyday preventive actions can reduce the likelihood of getting or spreading RSV.
- Stay home if you are sick
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve. Do not cover coughs and sneezes with your hands.
- Wash hands often with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs and mobile devices.
Care for RSV
Most RSV infections will go away on their own within a week or two, but can cause illness in some people. Medication is not usually recommended to fight RSV. There are several steps you can take to relive symptoms, including drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and managing fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers if appropriate.
RSV vaccines are available for groups that are higher risk for severe illness from RSV.
RSV vaccines can help protect people 60 years of age and older from severe illness. Older adults are at a higher risk for serious complications from RSV. If you are 60 or older, talk to your healthcare provider to see if RSV vaccination is right for you.
Infants may also be at greater risk for complications from RSV. RSV vaccines are available for people who are pregnant (between 32-36 weeks) to help prevent RSV in newborns. There is also a new monoclonal antibody (not a vaccine) recommended for all infants under 8 months that are entering their first RSV season. It is also recommended children 19 months and under who have the following underlying medical conditions:
- Children who have chronic lung disease from being born prematurely
- Children who are severely immunocompromised
- Children with cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
- American Indian and Alaska Native children