How to keep your family healthy during flu season

You can almost hear it coming: faint sniffling and coughing in the distance.

The flu season doesn’t usually peak until about December, and it lasts a miserable two or so months, but you can start seeing cases of the flu as early as October.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone 6 months and older get the flu vaccination by October—and it can take about two weeks for the vaccination to work. Do the math; that means if you haven’t had your flu shot, do it now.

The CDC says the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu.

Some children may need two doses of the vaccine, which makes early vaccination even more important.

Here are other ways you can help keep your family healthy during flu season: 

• Wash your hands regularly. Pack portable hand sanitizer in your purse for when you are traveling or unable to wash your hands in the sink. A keychain hand sanitizer is a great way to assure it will always be with you.
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• Stay away from people who are sick.
• Stay home if you come down with the flu.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and teach your children the same.
• Get a flu vaccination yourself if you have an infant under 6 months old who are too young for a vaccination but are still susceptible to catching the flu.
• Regularly disinfect surfaces in your home that people touch (light switches, sinks, door knobs, keyboards, remote controls).
• Practice general healthy habits: get enough sleep, eat healthily, drink a lot of water, exercise.