Stay safe from respiratory illnesses
like COVID-19 and Flu.
Respiratory illnesses affect your nose,
sinuses, and lungs.
Some of the most common
respiratory illnesses are COVID-19
and influenza, or flu.
Many respiratory illnesses have similar symptoms
like fever, cough,
and a runny or stuffy nose.
Most people who get respiratory illnesses
feel better in a few days.
But some people develop serious health problems.
The good news is you can protect yourself and your family
from respiratory illnesses.
First, let's talk about COVID-19.
Anyone can get very sick or develop
long-term health problems
from COVID-19 - including children.
But some people are more likely to get very sick,
including older adults, pregnant women,
and people who have chronic health conditions
or weakened immune systems.
The most important thing you can do
to protect yourself is to stay up to date
on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
If you are a parent or caregiver,
get your child vaccinated, too.
Find a vaccine location near you
at vaccines.gov
Improving ventilation, or air flow,
can also help to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
For example, when guests come over,
you can open windows or use exhaust fans.
Another common respiratory illness is flu.
Anyone can develop serious health problems from flu,
but children younger than age 5 years,
and especially those younger than age 2 years,
are at higher risk.
Older adults, pregnant people,
and people with chronic health conditions
or weakened immune systems are also at higher risk.
Protect yourself and others
by getting the flu vaccine every year.
The flu vaccine is recommended
for everyone ages 6 months and older -
so make sure your child gets vaccinated, too.
Doctors recommend specific types
of flu vaccines for older adults.
If you’re age 65 or older,
ask your doctor which flu vaccine is right for you.
To save time,
you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster
and your flu vaccine at the same visit.
Learn more at vaccines.gov
You can also text your ZIP code to
438829
or call 1-800-232-0233
or TTY: 888-720-7489
to find a vaccine location near you.
Wearing a high quality, well-fitting mask
can help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses
like COVID-19 and flu.
Children ages 2 years and older
can wear masks, too.
When you wear a mask,
you're not just protecting yourself
- you are also helping to protect
other people who are unable to wear a mask -
like very young children,
Consider wearing a mask:
if someone in your household is sick,
if you're at risk of getting very sick
and you're going to a crowded place,
if many people in your community have respiratory viruses
like COVID-19 or flu.
Here are a few more ways to protect yourself
and others from respiratory illnesses
like COVID-19 and flu.
Wash your hands often.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
or with the inside of your elbow.
Teach your child to wash their hands
and cover their coughs and sneezes, too.
Try not to spend
time around people who are sick.
If you feel sick and think you might have
a respiratory illness, stay at home.
And if your child feels sick, have them stay at home.
For many people, respiratory illnesses go away in a few days,
but some people need medicine to feel better.
If you're at high risk,
medicine may protect you from getting very sick
To give you the right medicine,
your doctor needs to know what kind of respiratory illness you have.
Take a COVID-19 test right away,
then share the test results with your doctor.
Depending on your COVID-19 test results,
your symptoms,
and any other health conditions you have,
Your doctor will figure out the best treatment for you.
Your doctor may ask you to make
an appointment for additional tests
or pick up medicine at your local pharmacy.
Be sure to follow their instructions.
Learn more about respiratory illnesses at cdc.gov