Cold, flu and COVID-19 prevention

Vaccines are the most effective prevention measures against COVID-19 and the flu!

Everyone age 6 months or older should be vaccinated for the flu annually. It’s especially important for people at higher risk, including young children, pregnant women, people age 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems or chronic illness, and caregivers for others who are at high risk.

Current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge everyone 12 and older to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

• Individuals 12-17 should receive 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine
• Individuals 18+ should receive 2 doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 1 dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t wash your hands, clean them with hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. The risk of the cold, flu or COVID-19 increases by doing so with unwashed hands
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue to prevent disease spread by droplets. Throw tissues away and wash your hands promptly.

• It’s important to take all preventive measures until you are vaccinated. Call your doctor right away if you think you were exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19
• If you are exposed to COVID-19, you still need to self-quarantine
• At the present time, CDC guidelines recommend unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals to continue wearing a mask and social distancing

• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, contact your doctor to determine if you should be tested
• At the present time, if you have been exposed to COVID-19, and do not have symptoms, you do not need to self-quarantine
• Vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks or social distance unless specified by state and local guidelines, businesses and other places which may still require mask wearing and social distancing