We know how to avoid germs — wash our hands, wear a mask and maybe try to avoid people who have obvious symptoms of a cold or the flu.
But there are also certain things you can do every day to help your immune system fight off viruses that get through. One of the most effective is vaccination. While the covid and flu vaccines may not prevent illness, “year in and year out, they provide protection against more serious disease — that is, they help keep you out of the hospital,” said William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University.