<div>Fall is upon us and with it are the fall respiratory diseases.Flu, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV, and pneumococcal disease (pneumonia) cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during this season.How can we prepare for and prevent these illnesses?You can protect yourself, your family, and our community with these measures:-Wash hands and improve airflow where you live and work with open windows, fans, or portable air purifiers.-Use a mask and socially distant yourself from others if you are sick or they are sick.-Stay home if you are sick.-Get new and updated vaccines. There are vaccines for these major fall and winter respiratory diseases – flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease.-Call the health department for testing. Tests can quickly detect respiratory viruses. In addition to flu and RSV, the health department has at-home COVID-19 test kits for you. If infected, get treatment and protect your family, friends, coworkers, and our community.-Call your doctor for treatment, if not too sick; otherwise, go to the hospital. Effective treatments are available for flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease. Treatment can reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death.Vaccines:-2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines: everyone 6 months and older.-RSV vaccine:-Women pregnant at 32-36 weeks between now and January-Adults 60-74 with medical conditions-Adults 75 years and older.-Pneumococcal vaccine:-Adults 19-64 with certain medical conditions-Adults 65 and older.The Rabun County Health Department on 184 S. Main Street, Clayton has these vaccines and is open five days a week. If you are homebound, the Health Department has the Homebound Vaccinations Program. Call 706-212-0289 for a staff member to come to your home to give you vaccines or to answer any questions you have about your need for vaccines.Susan T. Cookson, MD, MPH (CAPT retired, US PHS) is the Rabun County Board of Health physician.</div>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Protect yourself from respiratory diseases

Fall is upon us and with it are the fall respiratory diseases. Flu, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV, and pneumococcal disease (pneumonia) cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during this season. How can we prepare for and prevent these illnesses?. You can protect yourself, your...