5 Things Doctors Avoid During Cold And Flu Season

October 2, 2023 Steve Artressia

They don’t skip or delay the flu shot.

Skipping or delaying the flu vaccine can put you at risk of getting really sick from flu-related complications, explained Dr. Marie-Louise Landry, a professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine.

They don’t go to work or school if they’re sick.

“I would definitely avoid going to work if I am sick with the flu or cold. We each have a responsibility to each other and when we go to work while sick, we place others around us at risk,” said Dr. Richard A. Martinello, a professor of infectious disease and pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine.

They don’t go out without a mask when sick.

In certain situations, you may have to go out in public while you’re sick. Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health, said he would not leave his home without a good mask on, like an N95 or KN95 mask.

They don’t skip hand-washing.

Practicing poor hand-washing hygiene can be a risk factor for contracting the flu or common cold. According to both Martinello and Swartzberg, you should commit to keeping your hands clean through frequent hand-washing.