How to prevent the common cold? Part 1

Now that winter is here, it is better to prevent the common cold and remain healthy. There a few things that one can do to prevent the flu. These include:

Get the flu vaccine. The ideal time to get vaccinated with the flu vaccine is early in November. It takes the body at least 2-3 weeks to build up immunity to the common cold virus. The flu epidemic usually starts in mid December and runs through to end of March. If you do miss an early flu shot one can always get a later flu vaccine as the flu season is quite long.

All consumers should understand that the flu vaccine is not 100 percent guarantee against the infection, but it can definitely reduce the intensity and duration of illness. The flu vaccine is about 70%-80% effective in warding off the common cold in healthy people. The vaccine is less reliable or effective in elderly individuals. Health experts recommend flu vaccinations for individuals over the age of 50 because the flu shot has been shown to reduce risk of flu related complications like emergency room visits and hospitalizations.