Share this @internewscast.com

Experts are warning of a possible holiday surge in respiratory illness, including RSV, COVID and the flu. CBS News medical contributor and KFF editor-at-large for public health Dr. Celine Gounder sat down with “CBS Mornings” to discuss what people can do to try to stay healthy during the holidays. 

Gounder said it’s not too late to get a flu or COVID vaccine before the holidays, as well as an RSV shot for those eligible. When it comes to RSV, those most at risk are people over 60, and babies. 

“There are three tools, really, here available,” Gounder said, including a monoclonal antibody that can be given to infants under the age of 6 months and a second monoclonal antibody that can be given to infants who are 8-19 months old. 

The third option is an RSV vaccine, which can be given to pregnant people 32 to 36 weeks pregnant, and elderly people. 

If you’re eligible, “you should be getting vaccinated for RSV for the season,” Gounder said. 

RSV can start out as what seems like a common cold with sniffles and a cough, Gounder said. But RSV and other respiratory illnesses like COVID can go into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Gounder suggests monitoring young children for high temperatures, difficulty breathing or blue coloring under their nails or on their lips, which would be “severe signs” of illness. 

How else can I avoid getting sick around the holidays? 

Another way to prevent illness is to improve air ventilation indoors. Try opening doors and windows when it’s possible, Gounder said, or purchasing an air filtration unit. 

When not at home, wearing masks can help prevent sickness in the first place. Gounder recommends wearing them on public transit or in crowded places. 

If you do get sick, wearing a mask in public can help avoid spreading illness to others. The U.S. government is also offering another round of free COVID tests for every household, so ordering those and taking one if you’re feeling under the weather can help make sure you don’t spread the respiratory illness. If you did not order COVID tests earlier this fall, your household can receive eight free tests. 

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

“My Husband Passed Away in My Arms Waiting for an Ambulance – Why Starmer’s NHS Plan May Fail”

Samina and her family faced a harrowing wait for paramedics after Iqbal…

Important Alert: Widely-Used Prescription Drug Recalled Over Cancer Risk Concerns

Health officials have urgently recalled a common daily pill taken by cancer…

Ask Dr. Ellie: How to Overcome Intimate Discomfort and Reclaim Your Life

I have been diagnosed with vaginal atrophy which causes terrible intimate pain.…

The $1 Pill Women Claim Transformed Their Sex Lives: Doctors Weigh in on the Latest Trend

Ancient Romans slurped oysters to get in the mood, while in the…

Doctor Highlights Important Risk Associated with Weight Loss Injections and Offers Solutions

A doctor has warned those who use weight loss jabs like Ozempic,…

What Plastic Surgeries Have the Kardashians Admitted To? Here’s What They’ve Revealed in Their Own Words

The Kardashians—and their seemingly ageless appearances—are once again the talk of social…

Guidance on Weight Loss Injections: Avoid This Common Mistake to Prevent Organ Damage

A nurse has raised concerns for the increasing numbers of people using…

Doctor Recommends Immediate Action to Reduce Dementia Risk in Your 60s

A simple hearing test could significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia…

Over 100 NHS Doctors Urge Wes Streeting to Fulfill Promise on Osteoporosis Screening Clinics to Prevent Thousands of Avoidable Deaths

More than 100 leading NHS doctors have warned Health Secretary Wes Streeting…

‘I Tried a New Gym Class and Spent Days in the Hospital’: The Popular Workout Trend That Can Be Dangerous – Fitness Enthusiasts Share Their Nightmares

The phrase ‘no pain, no gain’ has been heard across gym floors…

Could Iron Deficiency Be Misdiagnosed as ADHD in Women? Discover a Simple Supplement Solution

For as long as Josie Heath-Smith can remember, she has suffered from…