CDC Says

“Take 3” 

Actions

To Fight Flu

For more information, visit www.cdc.

gov/flu or call 800-CDC-INFO

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• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not 

available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated 

with germs like flu.

• While sick, limit your contact with others as much as possible to keep from 

infecting them. 

• In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments or public health 

departments may recommend additional precautions be taken in 

your community. Follow those instructions.

• If you get sick with flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat your illness. 

Flu antiviral drugs are not designed to treat COVID-19.

• Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines 

(pills, liquid, or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter.

• Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. 

They may also prevent serious flu complications. 

• CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have flu infection or 

suspected flu infection and who are at high risk of serious flu complications.

• Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they 

are started within 2 days of getting sick, but starting them later can still be 

helpful, especially if the sick person has a high risk factor or is very sick from flu.

• If you are at higher risk from flu and get flu symptoms, call your healthcare 

provider early so you can be treated with flu antivirals if needed. Follow your 

doctor’s instructions for taking this drug.

FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

fever* or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, 

muscles and body aches, headache, fatigue, sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

TAKE TIME TO GET A FLU VACCINE.

TAKE EVERYDAY PREVENTIVE ACTIONS TO 

HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF GERMS.

TAKE FLU ANTIVIRAL DRUGS IF 

YOUR DOCTOR PRESCRIBES THEM.

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• CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important action to 

protect against flu and its potentially serious complications. During 2020-2021, 

getting a flu vaccine will be more important than ever. Flu vaccination is 

part of a comprehensive public health strategy to reduce the burden of flu, but 

also to preserve scarce health care resources for care of patients with COVID-19.

• Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine by the end 

of October, but vaccination of high risk people is especially important to decrease 

their risk of severe flu illness.

• People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, 

pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions, and people 65 

years and older. Many people at higher risk from flu also seem to be at higher risk 

from COVID-19.

• While there are many different flu viruses, flu vaccines protect against the 

three or four viruses that research suggests will be most common. Flu 

vaccine will not protect against COVID-19.