Vaccination is Best Protection Against Flu, Other Serious Illnesses

It’s important to remain mindful of one’s own health when tending to loved ones that are sick, a health expert with ThedaCare said.

“Staying well while caring for someone who’s sick can be extra difficult,” said Dr. Karly Johannsen, a Family Medicine Physician with ThedaCare Physicians-New London. “Through taking precautions, you can help reduce the likelihood of catching and spreading illness.”

One way to stay protected when serving as a caregiver for a loved one who is sick is through vaccination, Dr. Johannsen said. Vaccines may help caregivers avoid contagious illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia.

Getting vaccinated late in the respiratory illness season still may grant protection as flu and other respiratory viruses can continue to circulate well into the spring, she said.

“People aged 6 months and older should get the annual flu vaccine,” Dr. Johannsen said. “Depending on your age and health risk factors, you also may need the RSV and pneumonia vaccines. Talk with your care team about the COVID-19 vaccine as well.”

Preventing the Spread of Germs

Hand hygiene is also important when looking after a loved one who is sick, Dr. Johannsen said. She encouraged caretakers to thoroughly and frequently wash their hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

“Once germs are on your hands, it’s easier for them to get into your body when you touch your eyes or mouth,” Dr. Johannsen said. “Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol may work as a stop-gap measure. However, hand sanitizer is not effective against stomach bugs. Wash with soap and water if you’re caring for someone with a gastrointestinal illness.”

Physical distancing and masking are additional steps to consider when caring for a sick person, Dr. Johannsen advised.

“If you can, give your loved one their own room,” she said. “Provide them plenty of supplies like water and tissues and limit their exposure to other people. Ideally, the only person who should go in and out of the sick room is the person taking care of the individual.”

Practicing cough and sneeze etiquette may help protect the caregiver and reduce the sick loved one’s ability to spread illness, Dr. Johannsen said.

“The person who’s ill should cough or sneeze into their elbow instead of their hands,” she said. “This can be trickier if the sick person is a child. Reinforce this concept often with young ones, reminding them to sneeze and cough into their ‘chicken wing.’ Before long, it may become a good health habit.”

Dr. Karly Johannsen

Dr. Johannsen also suggested these steps when caring for a sick person:

• Washing and replacing items frequently. “Cold and flu germs can cling to fabric,” she said. “When someone in your house is sick, replace cloth hand towels, bed linens and dishrags with freshly laundered or disposable supplies. Have the person who’s sick use separate hand towels. Consider using paper cups in the bathroom instead of water glasses.”
• Sanitizing common spaces and surfaces. “Avoiding germ spread in shared living spaces like bathrooms and kitchens is important. Consider cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces like countertops, tables, refrigerator handles, doorknobs and faucets,” Dr. Johannsen said. “Include TV remotes, computers, laptops and phones, as some germs can live on these surfaces for up to 48 hours.”

Stay Home When Sick

In general, be mindful of others when feeling ill, Dr. Johannsen said.

“In recent years, we’ve come to appreciate the need for rest and recovery,” she said. “That also means distancing ourselves from others to keep them safe from our germs.”

When sick, stay home from work, school and gatherings, she said. For respiratory illnesses, she advised a sick person resume normal activities only after their symptoms have improved and they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without the help of fever-reducing medications.

If the person in question was sick with a stomach illness, they are encouraged to keep away from others for 48 hours after their symptoms have resolved, Dr. Johannsen said.

Visit ThedaCare Get Care Now for guidance on choosing an appropriate care option including virtual, in-person primary care and urgent/walk-in care.

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including nine hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. ThedaCare is part of Froedtert ThedaCare, Wisconsin’s most comprehensive health care system.