DENVER — Healthy Colorado is a partnership between 9NEWS and CommonSpirit. This sponsored series provides health and wellness information to help Coloradans live their best life.
Flu and COVID Q&A
Colder months bring an increase in colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses. It’s important to protect yourself and others from respiratory viruses so you can enjoy the fall and winter seasons ahead.
What are the best ways to protect myself and others from COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses?
Stay up-to-date with COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illness vaccines. Vaccination is your best defense against illness.
Practice good hygiene.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands. Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) five easy steps for handwashing - wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry.
Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Wear a mask and keep distance between yourself and others.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
The CDC recommends improving air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors.
What steps should I take to prevent the spread of illness if I am sick?
Please stay home if you are sick and seek care immediately if you are at risk for severe illness. The CDC recommends that people with a respiratory illness stay home for at least 24 hours until symptoms are getting better overall and you no longer have a fever.
While home, try to isolate yourself from others in your household to reduce the risk of spreading illness to others in your home.
COVID-19
I have had COVID-19 in the past, do I really need to get vaccinated?
Even if you have had COVID-19 or have received a COVID-19 vaccine before, everyone ages 6 months and older should get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. It’s important to stay up-to-date because protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases with time. In addition, COVID-19 vaccines are updated seasonally to give you the best protection against the currently circulating strains.
According to the CDC it is especially important to get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you:
Never received a COVID-19 vaccine
Are ages 65 years and older
Are at high risk for severe COVID-19
Are living in a long-term care facility
Are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant or might become pregnant in the future
Want to lower your risk of getting Long COVID
How do I know if I am at high-risk for severe COVID-19?
The risk factors for people contracting severe COVID-19 include:
Individuals over the age of 65.
Individuals with underlying medical conditions or who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
Please speak with your health care provider about your potential risks.
What COVID-19 vaccines are available this year?
There are three vaccines available for the 2024-2025 season including Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax. Please visit cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html for more information about these vaccines as well as age recommendations.
Will free COVID tests be available this season as they have in the past?
In addition to purchasing COVID-19 tests at your local pharmacy or grocery store, you can also order free COVID-19 tests. To learn more, visit COVIDTests.gov.
Flu
What are the common symptoms of the flu?
Commons flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some individuals may also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
Is it really necessary to get a flu vaccine every year?
Yes, the CDC recommends a yearly vaccine to reduce your risk of flu. By getting your flu vaccine, you are also protecting others in your community from severe illness and reducing the number of hospitalizations!
Who should get a flu vaccine?
It is recommended that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated. It is especially important to get vaccinated if you are at a higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu.
Who is at high-risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu?
People at higher risk of serious flu complications include:
Young children
Pregnant people
People with certain chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease
People 65 years and older
Where can I learn more about the 2024-2025 flu vaccines?
This season’s flu vaccines are designed to protect against three influenza viruses. To learn more about the available vaccines, visit cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2024-2025.htm.
About CommonSpirit Health:
As a mission-driven organization, we seek to weave better health into every part of our communities so that more people and places can prosper. Only when our health is strong, can we begin to grow stronger as a community.
We strive to build more resilient communities, advocate for those who are poor and vulnerable, and innovate how and where healing can happen — both inside our hospitals and out in our communities.
Our range of community health programs, research programs, virtual care services, and home health programs address the root causes of poor health such as access to quality care, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, and a healthy environment.
Visit www.mountain.commonspirit.org for more information.
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