The holidays truly are the most wonderful time of the year for many, but not if you’re ill. No one wants to miss out on friends, family, and laughter. Adam McNeil is a pharmacist with the University Health Truman Center in Kansas City. He talks about how people can safely gather with others during the holidays.
“During the holidays, this is the time that many people gather with family. They host special events. But it’s also a time when respiratory viruses like flu and COVID-19 can surge. So, prevention is the key, especially for people who are at higher risk, as well as people who have less access to health care. So many people may think that flu and COVID-19 are just part of the fall and winter and not a cause of concern, but if we look at the numbers, last year’s respiratory virus season, nearly 500,000 people in the United States were hospitalized for flu and about 900,000 were hospitalized for COVID 19, yet less than half of adults living in rural areas got a flu shot, and less than one in five got a COVID 19 vaccine.”
It’s important to spend time with family and friends during the holidays, but do it safely.
“Vaccines are your best protection against severe disease from flu and COVID-19. Vaccines can boost your body’s natural defense against the germs that may make you sick. Depending on the weather, you may consider gathering outdoors to provide that spatial distance from you and others. It’s not always possible, so you may consider opening windows or using fans. You can also wear a mask in public areas, especially those in large crowds, and wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. Another thing to consider is getting tested at your local pharmacy before traveling.”
McNeil gets asked every day if it’s safe to get the flu and COVID vaccines at the same time.
“The answer is yes, it is safe to get more than one respiratory vaccine at the same time. You know, I get mine at the same time. It’s more convenient. It saves time. It’s just easier. Duke University recently shared a research study where researchers found no difference in side effects among people who received the COVID-19 vaccine simultaneously with the flu shot versus those that got the shots spaced apart by a week or two.”
When is the best time to get vaccinated?
“The best time to get vaccinated is now, so talk with your healthcare provider or local pharmacist if you have any questions about which vaccines are right for you and when you should get them. Some folks who are at higher risk may need more than one COVID-19 vaccine this year. For more information, you should talk to your local pharmacist or healthcare provider. You can go to vaccines.gov to get started, but you can also visit cdc.gov/risklessdomore for more information on respiratory illnesses.”