‘Tis the season: get vaccinated and protect yourself and others from the flu and COVID

Forget about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. While you're at it, forget about Yuletide carols and sleighbells and Old Saint Nick.

It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but you're not feeling it. While sugar plum fairies dance in other people's heads, a little drummer boy marches through yours, beating his tattered drum over and over and over again. You're sick and far from jolly.

For what it's worth, you're not alone. At this time each year, lots of people like you get sick with the flu and COVID. That could be avoided. By getting vaccinated, you could help protect yourself, your loved ones, and others from these dangerous viruses. Getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID is recommended.

Says who?

These recommendations don't come from a bunch of Whos in Whoville. Instead, they come from some very reliable sources, namely us, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, and many other trusted national medical and scientific organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatricians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association.

About the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine changes each year to match the flu virus. So, it's important to get a new vaccine every year. But who exactly should get vaccinated? Well, everyone who is six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine. Even healthy people can get seriously ill from the flu. It's especially important to get vaccinated so that we don't spread disease to our most vulnerable populations. Those are:

• Children under 5 years of age

• Adults 65 years of age and older

• People with weakened immune systems

• People who are pregnant

• People with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease

About the COVID vaccine

COVID vaccines continue to protect our communities against hospitalization and death from COVID infection, and side effects, such as fatigue and soreness at the injection site, are typically mild and short-lived. Everyone six months of age and older should get the updated COVID vaccine now. People with weakened immune systems and parents of younger children should speak with their doctor about needing more than one dose this season. The COVID vaccine is especially recommended for more vulnerable groups, including:

• Children between 6 months and 23 months of age

• Adults 65 years of age and older

• People with weakened immune systems

• People who are pregnant

• People with chronic health conditions, such as lung disease, diabetes, and heart conditions

In Pennsylvania, an executive orderreaffirmed that COVID and other recommended vaccines should be covered by insurance and Medicaid, with no co-pays when administered in network.

Where to get vaccinated

Flu and COVID vaccines are available at pharmacies, clinics, doctor's offices, and City health centers throughout Philadelphia. Most are available for free or at low cost with insurance. Our Health Centers also have them for free, with no need for an appointment.

Enjoy the holidays

The flu and COVID spread prominently during the fall and winter all the way through early spring when people spend more time together indoors due to colder temperatures. With frequent holiday gatherings indoors, it's important that you're vaccinated. Do it for yourself. Do it for your friends and family. And do it for anyone else you might encounter along the way. It's the responsible thing to do.

Don't spend the holidays in bed under a pile of blankets. Enjoy them, instead, by spending time with family and friends, or better yet, with someone special underneath a sprig or two of mistletoe.

Happy and healthy holidays, Philly!

Watch our video to learn more about getting flu and COVID vaccines during the holidays.