GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – The fall season is here, bringing with it the changing colors of leaves on the trees, sweater weather, pumpkin spice, and also coughs and sneezes. But Soldiers can combat the seasonal sniffles by getting their yearly cold and flu shot.
Soldiers assigned to the New York National Guard’s Task Force Orion, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, got their flu shots while deployed in Germany in support of the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as part of the Joint Multi-National Training Group-Ukraine.
“It protects mission readiness and prepares us to do our job instead of being mission-incapable and sick,” explained Sgt. Philip Selle, a combat medic specialist assigned to Task Force Orion.
In the United States, flu season usually occurs in the fall and winter. While influenza viruses spread year-round, most flu activity peaks between December and February. The overall health impact of flu (e.g., infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) varies from season to season.
The Centers for Disease Control indicates that flu viruses constantly change. Each year the manufacturing of vaccines is reviewed and tailored to fight the top strands of the virus that are more likely to spread.
Simple steps Soldiers and their loved ones can take to stay healthy include:
--Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with hot water and soap
--Covering coughs and sneezes with the inside of the forearm
--Sanitizing frequently occupied areas daily
--Staying isolated if feeling any symptoms of illness
--Avoiding contact with individuals who are ill
In addition to flu viruses, several other respiratory viruses also spread during flu season and can cause symptoms similar to those seen with flu infection. These respiratory viruses include rhinovirus (one cause of the “common cold”) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is the most common cause of severe respiratory illness in young children and a leading cause of death from respiratory illness in those aged 65 years and older. Other commonly circulating respiratory viruses include human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), respiratory adenoviruses, and human coronavirus.