Vaccinations and common sense: The easiest way to fend off viruses this time of year

Make the most of your ability to prevent getting sick this fall and winter

Scott Robertson, MD, the President and CEO of Pacific Central Coast Health Centers, suggests a two-pronged approach to stifle the spread of viruses that have the potential to slow you down this fall and winter.

“The best way to protect yourself against influenza is to go out and get the influenza vaccine,” Dr. Robertson says. “This is something that is widely available and we certainly recommend that everyone get the vaccine by Nov. 1 – when influenza season will really start.”

Utilizing the flu vaccine is one tool. Using common sense is another instrument that can keep you from getting sick and spreading viruses this fall and winter. 

“Keeping your hands clean, staying away from anyone that may be symptomatic, and making sure that if you are sick that you’re staying home or reducing your exposure to others who may have more complications or be at risk for further illness,” Dr. Robertson says.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, everyone six months and older should get a flu shot every season, especially people at higher risk. Like Dr. Robertson, the CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important action in reducing the risk of flu and its potentially serious outcomes.

“Flu vaccines help to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths on the health care system each year,” the CDC reports, adding that flu vaccination also has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.

There are a number of factors that result in the increased number of illnesses due to viruses at this time of the year, according to Dr. Robertson.

“You can see common cold viruses 12 months out of the year, but they start to get a little more frequent as we get into fall and the early part of winter – that’s the seasonal variability with common cold viruses,” he says. “Also, as the weather starts to cool down, people tend to spend a little bit more time inside and they may have a little bit more close contact with others which could help spread these viruses.”

What, exactly, is the difference between the common cold and influenza?

Dr. Robertson says the flu is a “systemic illness” with tell-tale symptoms that affect our pulmonary systems. 

“People feel much much worse with influenza” compared to the common cold, he says. “My recommendation is to give the symptoms a day or two to see if they improve or plateau. 

“If you’re at a higher risk of being hospitalized or have chronic pulmonary problems, then it’s probably important to get seen sooner rather than later – certainly an urgent care or your primary care physician is the most appropriate venue for these types of things.”

Dr. Robertson says those struggling with a significant shortness of breath may want to visit the nearest emergency room.

The typical cold symptoms can be a runny nose, sore throat, mild cough and low-grade fever.

The CDC also recommends the COVID-19 vaccine, noting that everyone aged six months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from “severe disease, hospitalization, and death,” and it is especially important to get the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine for those who are 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information on Pacific Central Coast Health Centers, click here!