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As the weather cools and the days grow shorter, many people find themselves battling seasonal illnesses. Two of the most common culprits are the flu and the common cold. We asked Marie McCormack, MD, Primary Care Division Chief at Renown, about flu prevention and how to know the difference between the flu virus and the common cold. How do you prevent the seasonal flu? The annual flu vaccine is truly the best form of protection to help prevent the spread of the flu. Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, your symptoms will be lessened. Flu vaccines are available to the community. You can schedule a flu shot with your Primary Care provider through MyChart or through the Renown Pharmacy. Visit renown.org/flu for more information.  Who should get the flu shot? Almost everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza. Different flu shots are approved for people of different ages, but there are flu shots that are approved for use in people as young as 6 months of age and up. Flu shots are approved for use in pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions.

Read More About Cold and Flu 101: What You Need to Know

As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisper, it's not just pumpkin spice lattes that should be on your mind – it's also time to think about your health. Fall time also means it’s flu season and with new cases on the rise, we at Renown Health encourage you to do your part in keeping your Fall activities community safe. How can you protect your whole community you ask? Through something called Herd Immunity. We spoke with Renown Health infection prevention expert, Susanne James to talk about how getting your flu shot is vital for staying healthy and protecting your families and community.

Read More About Slow the Spread of the Flu with Herd Immunity