The pictures on Instagram showcase your family in matching PJs. Snowy afternoon walks. Steaming cups of hot chocolate. The tree. The menorah. The joy.
What those pictures don’t capture are those other holiday gatherings, the microscopic, germy icky ones: The influenza virus bopping around the crowded airport security line. The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) offering seasonal greetings to all in the hotel elevator. That old scrooge COVID-19 lurking at the mall, ready to bah humbug your whole winter break.
To make sure that preventable diseases are not part of your holiday itinerary, make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines and that you talk to your primary care doctor about ways to travel safely, www.hoag.org.
“‘Tis the season to be aware of travel-associated illness,” said Stan Wasbin, M.D., who provides travel medicine services in Newport Beach as part of Hoag Medical Group. “Thankfully, the CDC and your Hoag primary care physicians offer a lot of helpful advice to people during this time of year to help avoid the illnesses that can ruin holiday gatherings.”
Vacation Vaccinations. “Influenza is the number one illness that ruins vacations, but it is preventable with vaccines that can be given to children as young as 9 months old,” Dr. Wasbin said. “Children are now also eligible for COVID-19 booster shots, something that we advise parents to consider to keep their children and their loved ones protected from preventable disease.”
Prepared Packing. “Depending on your travel destination and whether you are prone to GI issues, I usually recommend a “just in case” prescription for antibiotics to get past what is affectionately known as ‘traveler’s diarrhea,’” Dr. Wasbin said. “Beyond that, pack a traveler’s health kit with enough of your prescription and over-the-counter medicines to last a little longer than your planned trip. (At this time of year, you’ll want to be prepared for travel delays.) Don’t forget the insect repellent, sunscreen, antihistamines, hand sanitizer and health insurance card.”
Crowd Control. “Crowded Airports, malls and public gatherings are often an unavoidable part of holiday travel,” Dr. Wasbin said. “To minimize your risk of influenza, COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, vaccinate, of course, but also practice good hand hygiene, consider wearing a mask and even consider alternative forms of travel, such as a road trip.”
With the “tripledemic” of RSV, COVID-19 and the flu descending upon us like uninvited houseguests this year, it is more important than ever to stay current on your vaccinations and to talk to your doctor about ways you can ensure a happy and healthy holiday season.
