How to prepare for winter virus season 2024

As most of us have learned intimately over the last few years, holiday tidings of comfort + joy can leave sniffles + coughs in their wake.

So scroll for tips and tools to help you handle whatever virus may come your way—and save this email for when you need medical care in a pinch!

Your Checkup: 

• Those Nerdy Girls outwit flu shot excuses on Instagram
• The stunning, life-saving effect of vaccines on one chart
• A heartbreaking feature on the Texas OB/GYN exodus
• Why we’re having/hearing about so many food recalls
• Pandemic successes + mistakes from Biden’s Covid Czar 
• You really wanna avoid shingles. So 6 things to know
• Why do you always feel sick when vacation starts?!
• A study confirms it’s sorta okay to vacay from exercise
• 17 ways to use the “nut of the future”—pistachios!

Primary Care

Max flu protection

This year’s influenza vaccine is trivalent, protecting against an A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus and a B/Victoria virus.

It's incredibly effective, reducing the risk of infection by 40-60% and minimizing symptom severity for those who get flu anyway. (65,000 vaccinated people avoided hospitalization in 2022-2023!)

It takes about two weeks for most people's immune systems to ramp up a complete response. So get your jab now for maximum holiday protection. Stay well-hydrated for a few days afterward to avoid unwanted side effects.

Does activity or exercise help or hurt your response? Should you take or avoid specific medications?

Get the details at Dr. B

Which virus is up first?

When our immune system detects any threat, it revs up a general response and then homes in to dispel the specific invader. That’s why Covid-19, the common cold, flu and RSV manifest similar symptoms early on.

But how long each virus spreads and how hard it hits differ—especially if you’re at high risk for severe illness. Sherlock-ing which virus you have can be a puzzle—and the only way to accurately know is by taking a test.

To understand how each virus incubates, spreads and clears—and what at-home tests are available to suit varying symptom sets + budgets, read Dr. B's winter virus guide.

Don’t toss that test!

Because we had a consistent summer surge, Covid-19 levels were thankfully low last week. But as holiday travel tends to cause an uptick, it’s wise to be prepared!

Every US household can get four free Covid-19 tests from the federal government while supplies last. But tests with expired dates may still be effective. Why?

When first mass-produced, manufacturers were overly cautious with expiration dates. Since then, studies have revealed they don’t break down as quickly as expected. To find your test’s updated FDA expiration date and refresh your testing best practices, get test tips in this Dr. B article.

Healthcare 911

Unwanted viral guests at Thanksgiving (YLE). If someone came to the table coughing last week, they probably had a cold (that caused walking pneumonia) or RSV—those viruses are the highest. Covid-19 cases are low, with more newly revaccinated than last year. And influenza is tipping into significant spread. Click the link for delightfully specific charts or get same-day flu treatment online with Dr. B.

Covid can raise the risk of heart problems for years (NY Times). Studies show that any Covid-19 infection increases the risk of major adverse cardiac events, with some suggesting the risk depletes over three years and others not showing a decline. But severe infection increases the risk of a major cardiovascular event as much as or more than a prior heart attack! Given that heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, experts believe severe infections should be considered in a patient’s health history.

To help those at high risk avoid a severe illness, Dr. B provides same-day treatment with a $15 online consultation.

How to navigate the holidays on a weight-loss drug (Time). Physicians report that patients on GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide (Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Zepbound) are altering their medication schedules so they can comfortably indulge during the holidays. Providers advise against this, citing potential ripple effects on dosage, side effects and treatment progress. Instead, they suggest preparatory fitness + nutrition adjustments. Read the article for details. And to learn more about Dr. B’s holistic prescription weight loss program, which combines GLP-1 treatment with streamlined fitness and nutrition support, find out if Shed It is right for you.