Top 5 Tips to tackle cold & flu season

1. Get your vaccines. It’s time for your updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines to protect you during the fall-winter respiratory virus season. The vaccines are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older. It’s safe and convenient to receive both vaccines in the same visit. Flu and COVID shots can reduce your chances of getting the virus, but their main power is to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death.
2. Hand washing works. On average, the human hand is home to 150 different kinds of bacteria! Germs can survive for 3 hours on our hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Sing the “Happy Birthday” song which may also make you smile! Make sure to wash your thumbs and between fingers. Teach your kiddos to wash their hands after they cough, sneeze, blow their nose, go to the bathroom and before eating. Clean hands are the one of the best ways to remove germs and prevent illness.
3. Stay home when you’re sick. If you or your children are ill, stay home and away from others until your symptoms are better and you are fever-free, without medication, for 24 hours. Take extra precautions for the next 5 days by distancing or wearing a mask. This is helpful if you are in contact with those at higher risk for the virus like older adults and young children.
4. Cover your cough and sneeze. An average sneeze or cough can spray thousands of germs at speeds up to 100 mph over distances of several feet! Sneeze or cough into your elbow.
5. Clean the air in your home. If you have central heating, you can set the fan to the “on” position instead of “auto” when you have visitors. As we head into the holidays, we tend to have many indoor gatherings. Change your furnace filter every three months and open windows when you can.  

To learn more, visit the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance at cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/index.html. 

RSV immunization for infants

Mankato Clinic pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the RSV immunization for infants. There are two ways to protect infants: Maternal RSV vaccination or an infant immunization. Here are the CDC guidelines:

• Maternal RSV vaccine during 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect babies who will be born in the RSV season. The vaccine is timed 2 weeks ahead of delivery to allow mom to build immunity and pass it on to baby.   
• One dose of the RSV immunization for infants younger than 8 months of age who are born shortly before or are entering their first RSV season.
• One dose of the RSV immunization for infants and children aged 8–19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season. Young children are at an increased risk if they were born prematurely, have chronic lung disease or are immunocompromised.

At Mankato Clinic, your pediatric or family medicine provider will be offering the RSV immunization October-March. If you are pregnant, Mankato Clinic obstetricians will offer this vaccine to patients September-January.

We encourage you to talk with your provider if you have any questions or concerns. We are happy to answer your questions.