There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of catching a cold or influenza. They include the following:

Wash Your Hands Often
Hand washing is the most neglected, yet most effective, method of disease containment. The primary way of spreading both colds and influenza is person-to-person contact. Wash your hands often, especially when you come in contact with someone who is sick. Effective ways to prevent respiratory infections include: 1) washing your hands thoroughly (15-20 seconds with soap and water), 2) avoiding hand-to-hand passage of germs and droplet sprays from sneezing and coughing, and 3) using alcohol-based hand gels when washing is not possible.

Don't Share Items
Do not share drinks or personal items.

Keep Your Hands Away From Your Face
Do not bite your nails or put your hands near your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Avoid Crowds During Influenza Season
This may not be a very practical suggestion for everyone. However, if you are at high risk of catching a cold or influenza or are at risk for developing complications from these infections, try to avoid crowded areas or people who are obviously sick during the winter influenza season.

Get a Flu Vaccine
Each year, the World Health Organization tries to determine which strains of the influenza virus will be most dangerous in the upcoming influenza season. Vaccines are developed for these strains.

In a recent CDC press briefing, it was reported that the vaccine used for the 2007-2008 flu season may not provide adequate protection against the A (H3N2) and B strains. However, vaccination may still weaken the virus and prevent complications.

(Note: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a vaccine for the pandemic H1N1 flu. There are currently no vaccines against the avian flu.)

Anyone who wants to reduce their risk of the flu should consider the vaccine. Those who should get a yearly flu vaccine include:

• Children six months - 18 years old
• Parents, babysitters, and caretakers of children less than six months old (as these children are too young to be vaccinated)
• Adults older than 50 years of age (shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths in the elderly)
• Those living or working in nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Those with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, and disorders involving the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, blood or immune system
• Women who are pregnant
• Healthcare workers
• Those living with someone who is at high risk for complications from the flu

It takes about two weeks for the vaccination to protect you against the flu.

There are people, however, who should not be vaccinated:

• Those who are severely allergic to chicken eggs
• Those who had a severe reaction to vaccination in the past
• Children less than six months old

Those who are sick with fever should not be vaccinated without first discussing it with their doctor.

The vaccine has been associated with fewer hospitalizations and deaths from influenza or pneumonia among the elderly living in a community.

Flu vaccines are available at doctors' offices, hospitals, local public health offices and at some workplaces, stores or shopping malls. A possible side effect is a mild "flu-like" reaction, including fever, aching, and fatigue. Up to 5% of people experience these symptoms after getting the influenza vaccine.

There are two types of vaccination: an inactivated virus vaccine given as an injection and a live-attenuated virus vaccine given as a nasal spray intranasally (FluMist). The injection is approved for people over the age of six months (with some restrictions). The intranasal vaccine is approved for healthy people aged 2-49 years old who are not pregnant. In a recent study comparing the effectiveness of the two forms in children, researchers found that the nasal spray led to fewer cases of influenza through a single flu season. Talk to your doctor about which vaccine is the most appropriate for you or your child.