7 Ways to Stop the Flu

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You can take these actions to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.

Get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine. This includes most childhood cancer patients. But always check with your child’s care team before getting a flu shot.

1. Get the flu vaccine as soon as you are able.

It is recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine, but always check with your child’s care team before getting a flu shot.

Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

3. Stay home when you are sick.

Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and COVID-19, are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are around others who don’t live in your household.

4. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are around others who don’t live in your household.

Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

5. Clean your hands often to protect you from germs.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Germs are often spread when people touch a surface that has germs and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

7. Practice good health habits in your daily life.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.