October 28, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998
Central Shenandoah Health District Encourages the ‘Little Things’ to Protect Against Respiratory Illnesses This Fall
Wash Your Hands, Cover Your Coughs and Sneezes, Get Immunized
STAUNTON, Va. – You can protect you and your family this fall from respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV by doing some simple little things. The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) shares three little things for a healthy fall: washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and getting immunized.
“The ‘Little Things’ campaign highlights that small habits can make a big difference in our health,” says Dr. Allison Baroco, Acting Health Director for CSHD. “All of these habits add protection to our defense against illness and to help keep us healthy throughout the respiratory illness season.”
Washing Hands
Washing hands takes a mere 20-30 seconds but can be key to keeping you healthy and preventing respiratory diseases. Germs can spread by touching surfaces and other people. Be sure to wash your hands:
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Before and after preparing food or eating.
- Before and after caring for someone else who is sick.
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.
Covering Your Cough
Respiratory viruses can spread through droplets that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. To limit the spread of respiratory viruses, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your upper sleeve or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
Getting Immunized
Everyone aged six months and older should get a flu shot every year, with a few exceptions. Talk to a healthcare provider about which flu vaccines are recommended for you and your family.
People aged six months and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine based on individual-based decision-making with a healthcare provider.
All adults aged 75 years and older are recommended to receive a single dose of one RSV vaccine. If you are 60-74 years old with a health condition, speak with your healthcare provider to decide if the RSV vaccine is the right choice for you. Pregnant women and parents of newborns should also talk with their provider about the benefits of the RSV vaccine.
If you are sick, stay home to prevent additional spread of respiratory virus.
For more information about how to stay healthy during respiratory illness season and all year round, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/respiratory-diseases-in-virginia/ or contact the Staunton-Augusta Health Department at (540) 332-7830.