How to make your holiday as safe as possible 12.22.25

December 22, 2025

How to make your holiday as safe as possible

MOBILE, Ala. — The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, to celebrate life, to be grateful, and to reflect on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate – and safeguard – the gift of health.

“It is safer to be vaccinated than getting the illness,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “Don’t forget handwashing, social distancing, and cough/sneeze etiquette. Your actions may prevent illness in yourself and someone you care about.”

Influenza (flu) is more than a cold, or even a “bad cold.” It can result in serious health complications like pneumonia, bacterial infections, hospitalization, or death.

Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and to keep kids and adults healthy, especially during the winter months. Evidence shows handwashing can help prevent 1 in 5 respiratory illnesses like the cold or flu — and it’s also key in stopping the spread of norovirus, sometimes called the “stomach flu.”

Norovirus outbreaks are common during the winter and spread easily through contaminated hands, foods, or surfaces. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after caring for someone who is sick.

Putting physical distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus. There is no single number that defines a “safe” distance, since spread of viruses can depend on many factors.

Covering coughs and sneezes and keeping hands clean can help prevent the spread of serious respiratory illnesses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pertussis (whooping cough), and COVID-19.

To find a location to get your flu or COVID-19 shots, visit https://www.vaccines.gov. For the RSV vaccine, please reach out to your provider or pharmacy.