This year National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 5 through 11. It is a time for national awareness focusing on the importance of getting the flu vaccine.

While seasonal flu activity remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several factors play into the concern that it could be a bad flu season. Those include less masking, individuals spending more time together, a generally warmer winter and the existence of a potential new flu strain. However, according to Heath Perdue, an Infection Preventionist at Prowers Medical Center, there are also some positive sides to these concerns.

“A lot of people are still wearing masks and keeping their distance from each other,” he said. “There has been an increase in the understanding of basic infection control procedures like hand hygiene, covering your cough and staying home when you are sick.”

The Number One Way to Prevent Spreading Infection

Perdue said washing your hands for 20 seconds is the easiest way to limit the spread of bacteria, viruses and disease. He said all cleaning supplies and procedures have a length of contact time in order to kill bacteria and viruses — usually 1 to 3 minutes. It would be unreasonable to ask the general public to wash their hands for 1 to 3 minutes, but 20 seconds should allow for good lather and 20 seconds of friction is beneficial in reducing germ load.

“ A former Emergency Room doctor used to say, ‘The secret to pollution is dilution,’” Perdue said. “Washing your hands not only kills most of the bacteria and viruses that are on your hands, but it also reduces the bacterial and viral load by dilution so that they are not spread to surfaces you touch — for example, door handles, phones and your nose.”

Perdue’s suggested tip for an effective handwashing technique: rinse with your fingers pointed down, toward the bottom of the sink so that soapy water runs off the fingers and not up the forearms. He also said to remember to rinse the 5th finger, “pinky,” side of your wrist because for most people it’s often missed.

When you are done rinsing, Perdue said it is important to dry thoroughly and to use a separate paper towel to turn off the water and open the door to avoid recontamination of hands — your hands may be clean, but the person before you might not be as diligent.

How to Keep Your Defenses High During Flu Season

Perdue recommends everyone get the flu vaccine, if they have not already, and get a COVID-19 booster shot.

The flu vaccine is available in many forms, but the three most popular are: Fluzone quadrivalent, the “regular” flu shot; Flublok, egg and preservative-free for those who have egg allergies or who have had problems with reactions to the flu in the past; and Fluzone High Dose, which is intended for those 65 and over and contains four times the antigen of the regular shot for a better immunity response in the elderly. The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older to be vaccinated every year.

“The 2020-21 flu season proved that we are capable of controlling the flu,” Perdue said. “It simply comes down to —  as with COVID — whether or not we are willing to.”