Preventing Respiratory Viruses

Actions you can take to help protect yourself and others from the health risks caused by respiratory viruses.
 

Stay up to date with immunizations

Talk with a healthcare provider to make sure you are up to date on vaccines.

Review the vaccine schedule to become familiar with the immunizations recommended for you and when you should get them.

Visit www.vaccines.gov to locate flu and COVID-19 vaccines near you.

Learn more about how vaccine recommendations are made.

Talk to your friends and family about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

Practice good hygiene

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

Learn and use proper handwashing technique.

Teach children the correct way to wash their hands.

Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as counter tops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.

Take steps for cleaner air

Bring as much fresh air into your home as possible by opening doors and windows and/or using exhaust fans.

If your home has a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC, a system with air ducts that go throughout the home) that has a filter, set the fan to the “on” position instead of “auto” when you have visitors and use pleated filters. Change your filter every three months or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner.

Move activities outdoors, where airflow is best.

Use CDC’s Interactive Home Ventilation Tool to see how particle levels change as you adjust ventilation settings.

When you may have a respiratory virus:

Use precautions to prevent spread

Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause

Seek health care quickly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.

There are a many risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of getting very sick. People at a higher risk of severe illness are older adults, young children, people with compromised immune systems, disabilities, and pregnant people.