Affordable Ways To Prepare For Cold And Flu Season

As the leaves turn color and the days get shorter, more and more people are starting to spend more time indoors, which increases the risk of contracting illnesses like covid-19, the flu and the common cold.

We’ve pulled together affordable ways you can prepare for cold and flu season without breaking the bank.

If you have health insurance, the most effective (and free!) way to prepare yourself for cold and flu season is to get both the flu shot and the covid-19 booster shot. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu shot by the end of October to prevent the spread of the disease.

Those who have health insurance can get their flu and covid shots for free at many locations, including pharmacies and grocery stores, according to Healthcare.gov.

According to the CDC, covid-19 vaccines cut the risk of severe disease in half, and flu vaccines cut the risk of severe disease by nearly half. In fall 2023, a vaccine was released for RSV for older adults, pregnant people and young children.

Guidance updated by the CDC in September recommends those who have cold and flu symptoms – which are very common to covid-19 symptoms – such as a sore throat, cough, runny nose or headache, stay home and away from people until at least 24 hours after their symptoms have improved and they no longer have a fever.

This guidance applies to those who may come into contact with people with symptoms. If you have a loved one who is experiencing cold-like symptoms, let them know you’ll hang out again when their symptoms have fully disappeared!

As we learned during the height of the covid-19 pandemic, hand washing is a crucial part of stopping the spread of many diseases. Washing hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good habit to get into during the colder months, according to the Red Cross.

You should also avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and cover your mouth and nose with tissues or the crook of your elbow when you cough and sneeze.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet and drinking lots of fluids can help boost your immune system and help you fight against germs you may encounter on a daily basis, according to the CDC.

Healthy habits also include getting a lot of fresh air during the day, getting plenty of sleep, exercising regularly and managing your stress load.