The holidays bring more indoor gatherings and increased travels, which means viruses tend to spread more easily. If you’re gearing up to travel or anticipating spending time with friends and family, there’s still time to get your vaccines.

The holiday season is a busy time of year, marked with social gatherings and travel plans that keep people on the move. It’s also a time when respiratory viruses like COVID-19, the flu and RSV tend to surge. Whether you're visiting loved ones or finally getting to enjoy a much-needed beach vacation, don’t let illness ruin the holiday season. 

To stay healthy during this time of year, consider taking a few precautionary measures. Reyn Higa, MD a Family Medicine physician with Dignity Health Urgent Care in Northridge, shares tips to stay healthy during the holiday season.

While people with mild flu cases may downplay the severity or mistake it for a cold, in some cases, the flu can be far more serious than the common cold. Both diseases are contagious and caused by viruses, but flu symptoms can be more intense and sudden, leading to more serious complications including pneumonia in some cases. 

Young children, older adults, and people with chronic conditions are most prone to complications from the flu. Below, Brian Nguyen, DO, a pediatrician with Dignity Health Woodland Clinic answers some common questions about flu season. 

This year’s flu season is predicted to be longer and more severe than we have seen in recent years. With COVID-19 infections continuing to spread, it is important as ever to protect ourselves and our loved ones against both the flu and COVID-19.

Now is the time to schedule and receive your influenza (flu) shot and updated COVID-19 booster. Based on recent infection rates around the world, experts anticipate that the U.S. will have a longer, more severe flu season than we have seen in recent years and with COVID-19 variants still causing people to become sick, it is a good idea to stay on top of the latest boosters. To help reduce infection rates and prevent negative outcomes from the flu and from COVID-19 this season, the flu shot and COVID-19 booster are highly recommended for most people.