With so many viruses circulating, from the common cold to influenza or – you guessed it — COVID-19, many people are wondering how to stay healthy.

Dr. Alison Culbert is a physician with Sunnybrook’s Academic Family Health Team, where she treats patients, including older adults with complex chronic care needs, through many of life’s ups and downs such as seasonal illnesses.

Dr. Culbert spoke to Your Health Matters about how to stay healthy this respiratory virus season.

Respiratory virus season is in full swing. What are you noticing among the patients you treat?

We are definitely seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses in all ages. We have had more calls to the office with our patients looking for advice about what they should do because they are feeling sick or their kids or loved ones are sick.

And we are also seeing an increase in the number of patients that we are bringing in to be seen in the clinic for acute respiratory illnesses.

What reminders can you offer to people about how to stay healthy during respiratory virus season?

The general things I usually recommend are to try to make sure you are getting enough sleep, that you are eating well, and that you make time for physical activity. And it is always a good idea to wash your hands frequently and try to avoid touching your face, especially at this time of year. I also encourage people to take advantage of the vaccines available to them for COVID-19 and influenza.

What should people do if they are experiencing common cold, flu or COVID symptoms such as cough or fever?

Number one is please stay home and try to use available over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to manage symptoms like fever, chills, or aches. Resting and staying well hydrated is also important. The vast majority of people will get better within a few days but if they don’t, they should call their healthcare provider for advice and help deciding if it’s time to make an appointment.

This year, health officials are spreading the word that it’s both safe and convenient to get a COVID vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same visit. What advice do you have about how folks should plan to get their vaccines?

Certainly from a convenience perspective, it makes sense to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together. We encourage people to get one in each arm. And many people have already had a flu shot or COVID vaccine before, so they can predict how they will feel based on their past experience. Some people might notice a sore arm, but the vast majority of people won’t experience too many side effects.

I often tell people to plan to get their vaccines on a day when they don’t have anything really important to do the next day, just in case they feel a little bit achy afterwards. But most people tolerate getting both vaccines at the same time without any issues.

What would you say to people who might be wondering if they need a COVID-19 vaccine now that the virus is no longer considered a global public health emergency?

It’s important to remember that although the vast majority of people with COVID will recover well, we continue to see those people who get sicker than other individuals and end up experiencing long COVID symptoms. So given that we have a safe and effective vaccine against this virus, I recommend taking advantage of it.

What about people who might think, ‘I hardly ever get the flu so I don’t need to get a flu shot’? What would you say to them?

True influenza usually makes you feel quite unwell with symptoms like fever and body aches, so anything you can do to avoid that is a good idea. If you do end up with the flu and you are vaccinated, chances are the illness will be far less severe.

But getting the flu shot isn’t just about protecting yourself. There is also a benefit to getting the flu vaccine to help protect those around you such as young children, vulnerable seniors, or immunocompromised friends or family, for instance, someone going through chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

I’d like to ask you about older adults in particular because this year there are more vaccinations available to them: COVID, influenza, pneumococcal, and — for the first time for people over 60 — respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. What can you tell us about RSV and why this new vaccine is being offered to older adults?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that affects both young children and older adults. It is highly contagious. While it causes symptoms similar to a common cold in most people, in more vulnerable populations it can cause severe illness such as bronchiolitis, which is inflammation of the small airwaves of the lungs. It can also cause pneumonia.

The new RSV vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing lower respiratory tract infections the virus can cause in adults over the age of 60.

My understanding is that the recommendation is adults over age 60 with at least one underlying health condition — such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, or liver and kidney disease — should consider getting the RSV vaccine.

It is not available at primary care offices at this time, but is available in some pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription.

In addition, the new RSV vaccine is not publicly funded in Ontario at this time except for adults over age 60 living in long-term care homes. This means patients would have to pay for it out of pocket unless they have a private drug plan that will cover the cost.

But if people are able to get the vaccine, it is definitely worthwhile and hopefully will help cut down on the number of patients getting this infection and ending up in hospital.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would encourage people to take advantage of any of the vaccines they might be able to access in order to help prevent unnecessary illness.

We know that emergency departments are still operating at full capacity and patients seeking care are often experiencing long wait times. If there is anything people can do to lower their risk of having a severe respiratory illness this season, I hope they will consider it.

Vaccines are available through primary care providers, pharmacies, and public health clinics, so there are lots of ways to get your COVID and flu vaccine.

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Can I get the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, or do I have to wait for a few weeks in between? 

Yes, you can get both at same time and this does not reduce the protection received.  Even the RSV vaccine that is in its second season, can now be received at the same time as Flu and COVID vaccine for those who are eligible – primarily older adults.

Do I still need to get a COVID vaccine if I was previously vaccinated during the pandemic? 

If you are an older adult or immune compromised, or if you are someone who cares for vulnerable populations – yes you should get vaccinated this season.  The virus that causes COVID is similar to the flu in that it is constantly changing which means that a seasonal vaccine is needed that is adapted to the current strain circulating.  Just like the flu vaccine is an annual seasonal vaccine, you should think of the COVID vaccine that way too.

Can I get the flu from the flu shot? I got sick after my shot last year.

No, the flu shot cannot cause infection. If you did get sick after getting the flu shot, there are a number of possible explanations:

• Maybe you had another virus (e.g., common cold) and this was not flu;
• You were in contact with the flu before vaccination (it takes 2 weeks to develop full immunity); or
• Because the flu shot doesn’t provide 100 per cent immunity, you can still get the flu if you get the flu shot, but your disease will be less severe on average than if you hadn’t received the vaccine. But the shot doesn’t give you the flu.

 If neither the flu or COVID shot can guarantee that I won’t get infected, why should I bother getting it?  

The greatest benefit of these vaccines is reducing risk of severe outcomes – like hospitalization or death.  This is why it’s so important to vaccine high-risk individuals to keep them safe during respiratory season.  While they do not always prevent infection – they do reduce the odds of getting infected which can make the difference between spreading it to others or not.  This is why it’s so important to make sure caregivers of vulnerable populations are vaccinated every season.

The flu doesn’t seem that bad. Why can’t I just take my chances and not get the shot?

You’re not only getting the flu shot for yourself, it’s offering protection to those around you. While the flu may not seem like a big deal, it can have deadly consequences for many people. Every season there are over 3000 deaths and well over 10,000 hospitalizations related to flu.  So even though less severe than COVID on average, it has devastating impact each year and results in major additional strain to our healthcare system.

What makes the flu so serious for some people?

The flu can be fatal in three major ways:

1. The flu can cause severe inflammation of vital organs, which is when the immune system attacks itself. This can lead to failure of vital organs and requires supportive treatment in the critical care unit.
2. The flu can progress into a secondary bacterial pneumonia or other respiratory conditions, which can be fatal.
3. Chronic diseases that are stable with medical treatment can become destabilized by the Flu.  An example is a person with limitations in mobility who can become weak and fall, or a person with known heart failure who can have difficulty breathing, or someone with heart disease can suffer a  heart attack, precipitated by the Flu.

 Is my immunity lowered after all these vaccines? Several years in a row, I got a cold right after the flu shot.

No, the flu and COVID shots do not lower your immune system – they boost it.  You likely became ill with something else, but due to the timing it is common for people to think it was caused by the vaccine.

Is it safe to get the flu and COVID shot while pregnant?

Yes, pregnant women should absolutely be getting both the flu and COVID shot. Being pregnant places you at risk of complication from either of these infections and these shots are strongly recommended for pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy, as well as those who are breastfeeding. The flu and COVID viruses, and not the vaccines we give to prevent these, can harm pregnant women seriously enough to land them in hospital and cause death.

Another reason for pregnant women to get vaccinated is that vaccines result in antibodies that get passed on to the developing fetus, providing protection to the newborn in the first months of life. A baby can also acquire antibodies through a vaccinated mother’s breast milk.

I live a healthy lifestyle (eat well, exercise, etc.) and consider myself to be a healthy person. I never get sick. Do I still need to get the flu shot?

Yes. You do. Public health agencies from around the world recommend everyone over the age of 6 months get the flu shot every year.  A flu shot not only protects you against the flu, it also helps protect your loved ones, colleagues, strangers on the street. By getting the shot, you are reducing your chance of spreading the illness. Even if you’re healthy, you should still get the flu shot.

Can flu be transmitted without symptoms like COVID?

While this is not as common, yes flu can be transmitted in absence of symptoms.  This re-enforces the benefit of getting vaccinated against the flu since it reduces the chance that you could unknowingly spread it to a vulnerable person that could become an issue of life or death for them.

Besides seasonal vaccines, what other measures (if any) are still recommended? 

Your best protection against circulating viruses is seasonal vaccination.  Beyond that, if you do develop cold-like symptoms it is very important to stay home and especially never to come to the healthcare facilities or other high-risk areas where vulnerable populations are present – until you are fully recovered.  Wearing a mask when you will be in close contact with high-risk individuals is another way of increasing their protection.  At the height of the respiratory season we require universal masking at Sunnybrook when visiting or providing care to patients.

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Flu season is already here. Have you gotten your flu shot yet?

As a physician working in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Sunnybrook, I’m often asked about the flu and the flu shot. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions I hear:

1. What’s the difference between a cold and the flu? What are the symptoms of flu?

A simple cold and the flu are actually quite different. A person with a cold may have a cough, sneezing, runny nose, and feel unwell. A person with the flu may have those symptoms and can be sicker with symptoms such as high fever and full body muscle aches. Most people can generally still function when they have a cold. Flu symptoms can cause a person to feel unable to even get out of bed.

Flu causes over 3000 deaths every year in Canada and is the tenth-leading cause of death overall. The very young and old are at highest risk of complications, but bad outcomes in otherwise healthy people can happen too.

2. Can I get the flu from the flu shot? I got sick after my shot last year.

No, you can’t, because the flu shot contains dead virus. If you did get sick after getting the flu shot, there are a number of possible explanations:

1. Maybe you had rhinovirus (common cold) and this was not flu;
2. You were in contact with the flu before vaccination (it takes 2 weeks to develop full immunity); or
3. Because the flu shot doesn’t provide 100 per cent immunity, you can still get the flu if you get the flu shot. But the shot doesn’t give you the flu.

3. Can I prevent the flu with holistic remedies (chicken soup, vitamins, infusers) instead of getting the flu shot? 

No. Hot liquids can soothe a sore throat and provide much needed fluids. But there is no evidence that chicken soup has any specific qualities that help prevent the flu. Your best protection against the flu is getting the flu shot, as there is lots of scientific evidence for this.

4. I heard there are a few different flu vaccines available this year. What are the differences? 

There are trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines available. The trivalent vaccine contains three strains of flu virus and higher levels of an antigen, which helps the body produce a stronger immune response. This vaccine is recommended for people over age 65.

The quadrivalent vaccine contains the same as the trivalent, plus an additional strain (four strains total), but with a lower dose of antigen. This vaccine is given to people over 6 months old to 64 years.

5. I heard there’s weird stuff like formaldehyde and thimerosal/ethylmercury in the flu shot. Are those things safe to put in my body?

Formaldehyde occurs naturally in your body, and is a product of healthy digestive function. While it can be toxic and potentially lethal in high doses, it’s present in such small amounts in a flu vaccination that it is harmless.

Thimerosal acts as a preservative, keeping the flu vaccine free from contamination by bacteria and fungi. Thimerosal is made of an organic form of mercury known as ethylmercury, a safe compound that usually only stays in the blood for a few days.

This is different from the standard mercury that can cause illness in large doses, and from the mercury found in seafood (called methylmercury), which can stay in the body for years.

6. Is it possible to receive a preservative-free vaccine?

Preservatives are only used with multi-dose vials. If you would like to receive a preservative-free flu shot, check with a pharmacy or doctor’s office for the type they have available.

7. If the flu shot doesn’t guarantee 100 per cent immunity from the flu, why should I even bother getting it?  

If you get the flu shot, your risk of getting the flu or flu-related complications is between 40-70 per cent lower. The flu shot doesn’t give 100 per cent immunity because the flu virus mutates and changes as the year goes along. But when it comes to becoming infected with a potentially fatal infection, or transmitting that infection to those you love, 40-70 per cent lower risk is not something to dismiss.

At a population level, the flu vaccine campaign each year prevents thousands of hospitalizations for flu in Ontario alone. The more people get vaccinated, the better our “herd immunity,” which keeps our community safe. We all need to do our part to reduce the burden of flu every year.

8. Can you receive the flu shot if you’re feeling under the weather (cough, runny nose)?

If you have a mild cold, you may still receive a flu vaccination. Vaccination won’t be given if you have a serious, acute illness, such as anything with a fever or requiring antibiotics. Some people choose to wait until they are feeling “100%”; however, as we get in to colder weather and longer days, this may not happen and receiving the vaccination will keep being postponed.

9. Is it safe to get the flu shot while pregnant?

Yes, pregnant women should absolutely be getting the flu shot. In fact, the flu shot is recommended for pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy, as well as those who are breastfeeding. The flu itself, not the flu shot, can harm pregnant women seriously enough to land them in hospital and cause death. The flu poses a major threat to fetuses, too.

Another reason for pregnant women to get the shot: flu vaccination causes the body to produce infection-fighting antibodies. When a pregnant woman receives a flu shot, her antibodies get passed on to the developing fetus, providing protection to the newborn in the first months of life. A baby can also acquire antibodies through a vaccinated mother’s breast milk. This is particularly important since infants can’t receive the flu shot, and are at higher risk of complications if they do get the flu.

10. The flu doesn’t seem that bad. Why can’t I just take my chances and not get the shot?

You’re not only getting the flu shot for yourself, it’s offering protection to those around you.

While the flu may not seem like a big deal, it can have deadly consequences for many people. The flu can be a serious illness and cause hospitalizations and deaths, especially in people over 65 and young children like Jude, who was a healthy two-year-old when he died from Influenza B.

This year’s vaccine is quadrivalent, meaning it provides some immunity to four strains of the flu virus.

11. When someone gets the flu, how could it actually cause them to die?

The flu can be fatal for different reasons, including (but not limited to):

• The flu can cause severe inflammation of vital organs, which is when the immune system attacks itself. This could leads to failure of vital organs and requires supportive treatment in the critical care unit
• The flu can progress into a secondary bacterial pneumonia or other respiratory conditions, which could then become fatal
• A person could have other medical conditions that can become unmanaged or more complicated when sick with the flu, such as exacerbation of lung disease, heart failure, kidney failure, or delirium. There is also evidence that flu can increase your risk of a heart attack, especially within the week after the infection 

12. Is my immunity lowered after the flu shot? Three years in a row, I got a cold right after the flu shot.

No, the flu shot does not lower your immune system – it boosts it.  You likely became ill with something else, but due to the timing it is common for people to think it was caused by the vaccine.

13. I live a healthy lifestyle (eat well, exercise, etc.) and consider myself to be a healthy person. I never get sick. Do I still need to get the flu shot?

Yes. You do. Public health agencies from around the world recommend everyone over the age of 6 months get the flu shot every year.

A flu shot not only protects you against the flu, it also helps protect your loved ones, colleagues, strangers on the street. By getting the shot, you are reducing your chance of spreading the illness. Even if you’re healthy, you should still get the flu shot.

14. I got the flu shot so that’s all I have to do to stop spreading the flu, right? Or can I spread the flu even if I feel well?

Your chance of spreading the flu is significantly reduced if you have been vaccinated. But whether you’re vaccinated or not, you can be a carrier of the flu even without symptoms. About 20 to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms at all. So, wash your hands after every contact you have with other people.

There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself during flu season besides vaccination. Avoid contact with people who have the flu, wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid touching your face, stay home when you are sick, clean and disinfect surfaces and shared items.

This article was posted November 21, 2018.

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When she went to wake the boys up, Jude was unresponsive. Jill called 911. Emergency personnel descended on her street and home. They took Jude to the nearest hospital.

An hour later, Jude was pronounced dead.

Jill’s healthy toddler was gone. And she didn’t know why.

Months later a pathologists report indicated how Jude died: influenza B.

Influenza A and B — known as the flu — are responsible for 13,000 hospital admissions a year in Canada. The flu kills more than 3,500 people a year in Canada alone. That makes the flu one of the top 10 causes of death in the country.

“The young, the old, and people who are pregnant or chronically ill are more at risk for complications from the flu,” Dr. Jerome Leis, medical director of infection prevention and control at Sunnybrook, says. “But no one is entirely protected; healthy people can become very ill with the flu.”

The respiratory flu can cause fever, chills, headache, body aches, cough, sore throat and more. This isn’t to be confused with the winter vomiting bug (also nasty, but not what we are talking about here).

“And the flu is not the same as the common cold,” Dr. Leis says. “It’s a real public health challenge. There’s often talk like, ‘it’ll be a mild season,’ but make no mistake: the flu leads to hospitalizations and deaths every year. So rather than focus on predicting if it’ll be a ‘mild’ or ‘severe’ year, which may make some people let their guard down, let’s instead focus on what everyone can do to help minimize the effect of the flu.”

Jill and Jude and the rest of the family had received the flu shot in 2016. Jill says she knows she did everything she could to prevent Jude’s death. She has now become a fierce advocate for the annual vaccine.

“How many homes was that flu in before it got to mine? What steps can we take to stop the spread of flu in our communities?” Jill asks. “I don’t see the flu shot as a personal choice. It’s a public choice.”

There are many misconceptions about the flu and the flu shot, Jill and Dr. Leis agree. Here, they dispel some of those common myths.

Myth 1: The flu shot gave me the flu.

No. It didn’t. The flu shot contains dead virus. You can’t get the flu from the flu shot. Maybe you have rhinovirus (common cold). Maybe you were in contact with the flu before vaccination (takes 2 weeks for full immunity). Maybe you have a different strain of the flu than the vaccine targets. The flu shot doesn’t provide 100 per cent immunity, so you can still get the flu if you get the flu shot. But the shot doesn’t give you the flu.

Common symptoms of the flu shot are red, tender arm, swelling at injection site, headache, muscle ache for 1 to 2 days. Tylenol can help reduce these symptoms.

Myth 2: I’m healthy so I don’t need the flu shot.

Yes. You do. Public health agencies from around the world recommend everyone over the age of 6 months get the flu shot every year.

A flu shot not only protects you against the flu, it also helps protect your loved ones, colleagues, strangers on the street. By getting the shot, you are reducing your chance of spreading the illness. Even if you are healthy as an ox, or however that old saying goes, you should still get the flu shot.

If you get the flu shot, your risk of getting flu or flu-related complications is between 40-70 per cent lower. The flu shot doesn’t give 100 per cent immunity because the flu virus mutates and changes as the year goes along. But when it comes to becoming infected with a potentially fatal infection, or transmitting that infection to those you love, 40-70 per cent lower risk is not something to dismiss.

Myth 3: Once I get the shot, I’ve done my part to avoid the flu.

Wash your hands and wash them often. Avoid contact with the flu by trying not to touch your face (droplets go into mouth, eyes, nose). Wipe down surfaces. You can be a carrier even without symptoms, so wash your hands.

Dr. Leis says flu immunization rates have been on the rise in Ontario, but we can do better.

This year, go get your flu shot #ForJudeForEveryone

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“While flu season can happen anytime between October and April, it does seem to be starting earlier in Ontario this year,” says Dr. Andy Simor, head, department of microbiology and infectious diseases consultant at Sunnybrook.

With that in mind, here are five things you should know about the 2017-2018 flu season:

1. Australia was hit hard by the flu this year

Each year, experts look to Australia’s flu season (which occurs during their winter, between May and October) to get an idea of what our flu season might be like. While the influenza (flu) vaccine match was good this year in Australia, the country saw a much higher number of cases than usual, resulting in an increased number of hospitalizations and deaths.

“If the experience of southern hemisphere is predictive, we’re in for a more difficult flu season than usual,” says Dr. Simor.

2. There’s more than one flu strain circulating

There are usually several strains of the flu circulating each year. As a result, the flu vaccine is trivalent, which means the shot protects against three different strains. This year, those three strains are influenza A (H1N1), H3N2 (the prevalent strain that was seen in Australia) and B.

The World Health Organization (WHO) determines which strains to include in the flu vaccine every year. With input from experts around the world, the WHO tries to predict which virus will be the most dominant. As a result, the flu shot protects against different strains every year. So, even if you got a flu shot last year, it won’t be effective against the flu strains circulating this year.

3. Getting the flu shot is safe and effective

The flu vaccine is safe and effective, particularly in preventing serious complications that may occur from the flu (such as pneumonia, which can become deadly for some people).

“The flu can cause severe illness, especially in the very young and the elderly. The most effective thing we can do to protect ourselves and others against the flu is to get the vaccine,” says Dr. Simor.

4. You can’t get sick from the flu vaccine

“The flu vaccine is made entirely of killed virus and cannot cause you to get sick,” says Dr. Simor. Studies have found that symptoms occur just as often in people who get a placebo shot versus the real thing. However, you can definitely still get a sore arm!

It’s important to note, though, that it takes two weeks for the flu shot to work. “If you get sick in those first two weeks, it’s because you had already been infected or you weren’t yet fully protected,” says Dr. Simor.

5. Clean your hands to prevent the flu from spreading

While the flu vaccine is safe and effective, it’s not perfect, and it doesn’t provide a 100% guarantee that you’ll avoid getting sick.

This is why it’s so important to take steps to prevent the spread of the flu, like cleaning your hands often. If you do get sick, don’t go to work and try to stay away from crowded places so you don’t pass the flu virus on to someone else.

“If you get the flu, you’ll feel sick for 5-7 days, and you’re contagious for the first four days. It’s important to limit your contact with other people during that time,” says Dr. Simor.

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Here are my tips for pregnant women:

1. You’re protecting yourself and your baby: Whatever stage of pregnancy you’re at, the flu vaccine keeps you and your baby healthy. Pregnant women are at a much higher risk of hospitalization from influenza – four times more likely to land in a hospital ward than a non-pregnant person. When you’re vaccinated, you develop antibodies to protect your body from the virus. In turn, you also pass along these antibodies to your baby, so she will be protected during her most vulnerable months after birth.
2. Don’t delay (it’s free and easy to access): There are so many places to receive the flu vaccination. From local pharmacies, to your doctor’s office, to public health flu clinics, it is free and easily available. Add it to your list of errands.
3. “But I’m really healthy”: Even if you have a healthy diet, exercise, take your vitamins and get lots of rest, changes in your immune, heart and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get seriously ill from the flu.
4. No link between flu vaccine and autism: Some of my patients are determined to have a “natural” pregnancy and feel anxious about being vaccinated. There is no link between vaccines and autism, in fact there have been several scientific studies refuting this claim. Speak with your doctor if this is a concern.
5. Don’t take a chance: Severe illness in a pregnant mother can be dangerous to your fetus, and increases the chance for serious problems such as premature labour and delivery.

What if…you get the flu when you’re pregnant?

If you do find yourself with the telltale symptoms – fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headaches, muscle and body aches and fatigue – call your doctor right away. There are antiviral drugs that can treat the flu and help prevent serious flu complications. These drugs are safe for pregnant women. Your fever can cause problems with your unborn baby, speak to your doctor about reducing your fever with Tylenol.

Every day, I see mothers agonize over decisions related to their pregnancy. Receiving the flu vaccination should not be one of them. It’s a no-brainer: get vaccinated to protect yourself and your baby. And don’t forget the usual steps you should take every year, like cleaning your hands regularly to combat any viruses you may come into contact with.

Stay healthy and enjoy your pregnancy!

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With cold and flu season here, I spoke to Dr. Mary Vearncombe, former Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Sunnybrook, about how to best minimize the spread of germs and stay healthy.

First though, the difference between a cold and the flu: a cold is a viral infection that brings along a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and general crummy feeling. In healthy people, it doesn’t usually lead to serious health complications.

The flu is an acute respiratory infection that brings along a fever, cough, chills, aches and pains, and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia. For the elderly, pregnant women, chronically ill or young children, influenza can be deadly. It kills around 3,500 people per year in Canada.

Both colds and flus can feel pretty yucky if you catch one. So here are Dr. Vearncombe’s tips for avoiding both this year:

Clean your hands.

Wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Both are effective at removing (washing) or killing (hand sanitizer) bacteria and viruses, including respiratory viruses.

Hand sanitizer should contain alcohol at a minimum concentration of 60 per cent to be effective. Many people find alcohol-based hand sanitizer to be a convenient way to clean hands, especially in public places where hand washing sinks with soap and water are not always available. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your purse, pocket or backpack.

Get the flu shot.

We are all susceptible to influenza virus, even those of us who consider ourselves healthy.

“If we get influenza, it may be relatively mild for us and we think we have ‘just a bit of a cold’,” Dr. Vearncombe said. “But, we are still infectious to others who may be more susceptible to serious influenza virus infections.”

And we all have these vulnerable people in our lives: elderly parents or grandparents; pregnant relatives or friends; infants and young children; friends and relatives with chronic diseases such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or cancer. By getting the flu vaccine as healthy people, we protect ourselves and therefore help to protect our vulnerable friends and loved ones. (And remember, you can’t get the flu from the flu shot. You may get arm tenderness or mild aches afterwards.)

Get your kids the flu shot or nasal vaccine.

Kids should also get the flu shot or nasal vaccine. A recent US study questioned the effectiveness of the nasal version, but data from studies in Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom suggest it’s effective for use in children. View Health Canada information on the nasal flu vaccine here.

Stay home if you are sick.

Many of us have a strong work ethic and want to drag ourselves in to work even when we are feeling ill. Stay home if you have the flu or a bad cold with a fever.

“Respect your colleagues at work: nobody wants your viruses,” Dr. Vearncombe said. “If you go to work, you will compound the problem by making others in your office ill.”

And this doesn’t just mean staying home from work. Protect your vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. If you promised to go visit your elderly grandmother, call and reschedule; your trivial infection may result in life-threatening pneumonia for her. If you’ve got an acute respiratory infection, now is not the time to take the bus to the movie theatre.

Practice healthy habits.

“Keep your immune system healthy: eat properly, exercise, get enough sleep,” Dr. Vearncombe says. “If possible, keep your distance from people with obvious symptoms of respiratory infection, e.g., coughing, sneezing.”

If you are coughing/sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue (or “sneeze in the sleeve”), discard the tissue in the garbage immediately after use and clean your hands.

“Most of this is what your mom always told you to do,” Dr. Vearncombe says. “And, as always, mom was right!”

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the flu vaccine.

A version of this post appears in the Town Crier newspaper in Toronto, Ontario.
This post has been updated to reflect 2017/2018 flu information

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