HOW TO HOLIDAY IN GOOD HEALTH

TIPS TO HELP YOU PREVENT GETTING SICK-AND GIVING GERMS THIS SEASON

- EILEEN FINAN

What's as predictable during the holidays as Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" on repeat? Virus season. "Respiratory viruses circulate in the northern hemisphere in the winter months," says Dr. Kelly Gebo, professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "And people are indoors, and they're intermingling more, so you're exposed to more things." Each year more than 36,000 people die of the flu in the U.S., and last year COVID-19 contributed to 76,000 deaths. And yet vaccination rates are still low-so far this year, only about a third of adults have received a flu shot, and less than 18 percent have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine. "The biggest thing you can do is get vaccinated," says Dr. Gebo, who offers more advice for staying healthy.

When do we need to be especially aware of germs?