News Flash

For Immediate Release

09/22/2020                        

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/covid-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Rowan County Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

How to Boost Your Immunity During COVID-19 and the Flu Season

Preventing a cold or the flu is always a health challenge each fall; however, this year, there is the added concern of coronavirus continuing to impact the health and well-being of our community. It is even more important to prepare yourself and your family by taking actions now to boost your immunity and by making plans to get your flu shot.

Why the flu shot is even more important this year?
As the weather gets colder, we’ll start spending more time indoors where it’s easier to spread viruses, like the flu and COVID-19. Our goal is to encourage all community members to take steps to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy. This includes doing everything possible to reduce the spread of the flu. The flu shot is your best defense. Not only does the flu shot dramatically decrease your chance of getting the flu, but it may also make your symptoms less severe.

COVID-19 and the inflammation response it causes affects the systems and organs in your body, and can be especially damaging to your lungs. If you develop a cough or respiratory issues from a cold or the flu, this can put extra strain on your breathing and lung capacity.

This year, the CDC is recommending the flu vaccine be administered by the end of October to ensure coverage for what we think will be peak flu season. Children aged 6 months through 8 years who require two doses of the flu vaccination should start as soon as the vaccine is offered and follow up with a second dose in approximately four weeks. Flu shots are available at many of our local pharmacies and at your primary care provider’s offices.

How to boost immunity and reduce the risk of getting a cold or the flu?
When it comes to staying healthy, it all comes down to the basics and taking care of one’s self. Practicing healthy habits, such as getting plenty of sleep and managing stress, as well as preventive care, such as frequently washing your hands, protects your body when confronted with incoming threats – whether it’s the common cold, the flu and even COVID-19. Just a few lifestyle changes can better prepare your body and immune system.

Stay healthy and well:

• Get your flu vaccine. And encourage those around you to do the same.
• Sleep. Adults need at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
• Stay active. Get 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week. (This includes walking, running, biking, swimming and even indoor exercises that elevate your heart rate.)
• Eat healthy. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eat less sugar, salt and processed foods.
• Wash your hands frequently or at least use hand sanitizer, if soap and water isn’t available. 
• Cover your cough and sneeze. Stop the spread of germs by coughing and sneezing into your elbow or into a tissue.
• Avoid people who are sick. Keep your distance if someone close to you is showing symptoms. Chances are that the steps you take to socially distance during COVID-19 can also help avoid other illnesses.
• Wear a mask. This not only prevents the spread of COVID-19, it can also do double duty by preventing the spread of the flu virus.

Since this is the first cold and flu season in the U.S. during the global pandemic, healthcare providers aren’t really sure how immune systems will react. Any infection or pre-existing condition can reduce your body’s ability to fight infection. Don’t delay, start boosting your immunity today and get your flu shot by the end of October!

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Contact:
TJ Brown
704-216-8918
tj.brown@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - September 22, 2020 (PDF)