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<\/p>\n\u201cThat same cold and dry air weakens your body\u2019s first line of defense, the nose and the throat, and that mucus clearance that it does to catch and clear the germs,\u201d she explained. \u201cThen it\u2019s a numbers game: kids go back to school, the weather pushes the adults back indoors, and we spend a lot more time together in tighter spaces, breathing each other\u2019s air.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Dr. Holinaty said if you have a fever, the best thing to take is Tylenol or ibuprofen. Whereas if you have a cough, she explained cough medicine might not be the best option.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially, a cough medicine, for the most part, is just a syrup that tastes nice and convinces people that they\u2019re doing something, but probably doesn\u2019t help at all. If you\u2019re really trying to suppress things like a cough, just plain old honey probably works better than most of the cough syrups you\u2019re going to get over the counter.\u201d <\/p>\n
When it comes to kids, Dr. Holinaty said it is important to teach them to wash their hands often, especially if they have been coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids are little germ factories, and they love to share.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also encourages people to stay home when they are sick.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t share your germs with your colleagues and your classmates; they won\u2019t appreciate it. Get your flu shots and make sure your other vaccinations are up to date, and get fresh air when you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fall immunizations officially roll out in Saskatchewan on Oct.13; anyone six months and older can get both the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOVID shots still exist, you can get them at the same time as your flu shot, they\u2019re just maybe less widely available than where the flu shots might be, but they still are available for a booster dose into the spring of next year,\u201d said Dr. Holinaty. \u201cI would say if you haven\u2019t had one, if you\u2019re thinking about it, definitely do get one. We\u2019re still seeing COVID around; people still do get quite sick from it.\u201d<\/p>\n