I was looking for a snappier title, but why not put the main point right up front? This time of year many of us see a lot of friends and family that we aren’t seeing on a regular basis earlier in the year. Many of us travel and many of us will be going to parties and special events. Chances are, you’re going to be coming into contact with a lot of people who have more vulnerable immune systems, and you’re also going to be coming into contact with more people who are sick.
Last year I came down with some terrible bug in early December. I was a mess. My extended family Christmas party is one of my favourite things in the entire year, but last year my sister-in-law and one of my cousins were both pregnant, and between all of our families there were piles of adorable little kids. Long story short – I couldn’t go. I was heartbroken over it, but I couldn’t take the chance of passing whatever nonsense my body was fighting on to all of these people I love, especially those who were more vulnerable and could have been much sicker than I was.
You know what you don’t want to do? You don’t want to miss all the fun stuff this season. And you don’t want to be the reason someone else ends up missing out on all the fun stuff. So what can you do?
1) Get your flu shot! It takes two weeks to take effect, so you should go now. Right now! Go to your local pharmacy on your lunch break. Swing by Target if you’re lucky enough to live in a country that still has Target. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s your best insurance against staying home sick from all the fun stuff.
2) Ugh. You got sick. Stay home, make yourself some tea, and rest up. Your people love you and want you at all the fun stuff, but they don’t want whatever you’re fighting. Stay home and catch up when you’re better.
3) Sick people in the office? Kids coming home with runny noses? This time of year it’s especially important to practice regular hand through the day washing, and remember to cough into your sleeve and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze. These seem like such small actions but they can make a huge difference in transmission. Also remember to frequently disinfect frequently touched shared surfaces. Think doorknobs, faucet handles, phones, the remote, drawer pulls, etc.
Keep in mind that you can spread the flu up to six feet away from someone. Six feet! If you’re already sick, please take extra care when you’re around others. You never know if they have an underlying health issue or if they’re going home to someone who is more vulnerable.
I made this very colourful calendar for you! Take a look and see how far in advance you need your shot before your festivities start. And remember that the flu season is very long. I’ve had a few people mention to me that they feel like it’s too late to go get one. No, not at all! Jude got the flu in May. Go get a shot and help keep it in check. The sooner you get it, the better – but it’s still very early in the season, and getting it as soon as you can will have the greatest impact.