HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — As we head into the fall and winter season this is the time respiratory viruses tend to pick up, and while a late summer COVID wave is slowing, the flu and other viruses like the common cold are coming.
“Every season is different with these viruses circulating altogether in the communities,” said Elena Diskin, a respiratory disease program manager with the Virginia Department of Health, “so it’s most important to take every step we have, every opportunity available for protection and prevention ahead of the season.”
Diskin recommends you take every step available for protection and prevention ahead of the flu season.
“With rare exception, everyone six months and older is recommended to get the flu vaccine every season,” Diskin said. “Our youngest children, older adults, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems are the most at risk of serious outcomes.”
Other ways to prevent respiratory viruses that are circulating include making sure that you and your kids are washing your hands well and often, and, if you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with other people.
“Last year, we didn’t see the peak of the season until about February, but the season before was right around that new year, so it can kind of vary between that end of December, February timeline,” she said. “And again, we won’t really know until we’re in it.”
Health departments across the country do laboratory testing to see what flu viruses are circulating and also look at other countries around the world.
“We look at Australian data, for example, to see what they experience since their flu season is over our summer,” she said, “and we look at what their flu season looked like in the viruses that circulated there to kind of inform maybe what we will see and help us predict better what we’ll see.”
Flu vaccinations should be available at your local pharmacy or at your doctor’s office. They recommend that you get your flu vaccine by the end of October.
