Top Tips To Prevent You From Getting Sick This Season

Last year, we saw very few cases of the flu because Americans were staying at home and masking up when they did go out to protect themselves from COVID-19. That’s not the case this year. Health officials are afraid of what may come because we are now facing a triple threat: coronavirus, the flu and the common cold.

The Washington Post looked into this and came up with a list of things you can do to help keep from getting sick. The number one being to get vaccinated – against COVID-19 and the flu. Both shots will reduce your risk of serious illness or hospitalization. The CDC says you can get both vaccines at the same time. That’s good news because millions of people are now eligible for their COVID-19 booster shots.

If you are over the age of 65, experts recommend you get the high-dose flu shot which provides better protection than the standard shot. You should also get the pneumococcal vaccine, if you haven’t already, to protect against bacterial pneumonia.

Besides vaccines, it’s important to continue to practice the virus fighting habits we adopted during the pandemic like wearing masks, especially in crowded environments, washing your hands, and staying home if you are sick.

If you do notice symptoms of a viral illness — fever, cough, chills, sore throat, runny nose, congestion — get tested. COVID-19, the flu, and colds can cause similar symptoms. You want to get tested early so you can begin treatment. For COVID-19 and the flu early intervention can improve your prognosis.

The Seniors Trust is committed to improving the lives of seniors by working to improve Social Security. It wants to see Congress pass the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will provide bigger monthly Social Security benefits, establish a more realistic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for seniors, and guarantee the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.