We all know that familiar feeling – the tickle at the back of your throat, the sudden wave of fatigue, or the stuffy nose that has you constantly reaching for tissues. Whatever it is, you’ve caught the dreaded “what’s going around.”
The Alliance has created a brand-new animated film, “Respiratory Viruses: Often More Than a Sniffle,” aimed at taking the confusion out of the four common respiratory viruses: cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
These viruses often cause overlapping symptoms which can make it hard to tell what you’re dealing with. But some clues, like wheezing with RSV or a sudden fever and chills with the flu, can help point you in the right direction. Testing can also play a key role, especially when early treatment is available, such as antivirals for flu and COVID-19.
And while these viruses are often mild, they can often lead to complications in older adults, which is why it’s important to protect yourself and your loved ones. Vaccines remain one of the best ways to avoid serious illness, with updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines recommended every year, and an RSV vaccine recommended to adults 65+ or those with certain health conditions. Simple actions like washing your hands, disinfecting shared surfaces, wearing a mask when you’re sick, are also important to stop the spread of viruses.
This season offers a lot of special opportunities to gather with family and friends, so don’t miss out by having to stay home because you are sick. Watch the film and learn how to protect yourself and others and learn more about vaccination on the Alliance website.
Katrin Werner-Perez is the Director of Health Programs at the Alliance.
