Each fall and winter, cooler air and indoor gatherings bring not just holiday cheer but a spike in respiratory viruses. Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and other respiratory infections during these months, often leading to preventable hospitalizations and deaths. For many, these viruses cause only mild illness. However, for older adults, children, pregnant people, and those with chronic health conditions and weakened immune symptoms, they can be devastating (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024a).
This season, I encourage everyone to view prevention as an act of compassion. Protecting ourselves means protecting others, especially the vulnerable members of our community who may not be able to protect themselves. Wearing a mask, staying home when sick, or getting vaccinated is not just a medical decision; it’s a moral one. It is empathy in motion.
Vaccines remain the most effective tool to reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by respiratory viruses (CDC, 2024b). Each year, health experts update vaccine recommendations based on circulating strains and population data.
- Influenza vaccine: Recommended annually for everyone six months and older.
- COVID-19 vaccine: Updated boosters are advised to match circulating variants.
- RSV vaccine: Newly available for adults aged 60 years and older and for certain infants and high-risk adults.
- Pneumococcal vaccines: While not targeting viruses, these prevent bacterial pneumonia—a common and dangerous complication of viral respiratory infections (Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica [SEPAR], 2025).
Layering vaccines provides greater protection, especially for older adults and individuals with chronic lung or heart disease (Moreno et al., 2025). Vaccination not only shields individuals but also decreases community transmission, lessening the burden on healthcare systems.
Public health experts describe prevention as a “Swiss cheese model”; each layer has holes, but together they form a stronger barrier (CDC, 2024c). Evidence-based steps include:
- Stay home when ill. If you have symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, or congestion) stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms improve and fever resolves without medication (CDC, 2024d).
- Mask in crowded or poorly ventilated areas. High-quality, well-fitted masks (N95 or KN95) reduce both inhalation and spread of infectious particles (CDC, 2024e).
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash hands often with soap and water or use sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue (CDC, 2024f).
- Improve indoor air quality. Open windows, use air purifiers with HEPA filters, and ensure HVAC systems bring in fresh air (CDC, 2024g).
- Respect others’ precautions. Whether someone chooses to mask or avoid close contact, honoring those decisions reflects empathy and shared responsibility.
These small acts, repeated across communities, can save lives, especially among those with weakened immune systems.
Communities and workplaces can amplify these efforts through supportive policies. Paid sick leave enables workers to recover without fear of losing income. Schools and offices that provide masks, hand sanitizer, and ventilation improvements help normalize protection. Most importantly, messaging should emphasize care over fear, that protecting one another strengthens community bonds and resilience (CDC, 2024h).
Public health communication research shows that appeals to empathy and shared values motivate behavior more effectively than fear-based messages (JAMA Network Open, 2024). When individuals understand that their choices directly affect others—neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones—they are more likely to take preventive steps.
Respiratory illness season is not just a test of our immune systems; it’s a test of our collective empathy. Each decision to vaccinate, mask, or stay home sends a message: I care about your health as much as my own. Compassion, it turns out, may be the most powerful public health tool we have.
So, this season, we must lead with empathy. Everyone has the capacity to show that compassion is contagious and that protecting one another is the truest expression of community.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a, March 1). Respiratory viruses and prevention guidance. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b). Vaccines and preventable diseases.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024c). Infection control: Viral respiratory prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024d). Precautions when you are sick.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024e). Project Firstline: Masking guidance for healthcare and community settings.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024f). Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024g). Improving ventilation in your home and workplace.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024h). Reducing your risk from respiratory viruses this holiday season.
Moreno, P., García-Leoni, M. E., & López-Campos, J. L. (2025). SEPAR recommendations on vaccination for adult patients with respiratory disease. Archivos de Bronconeumología, 61(4), 221–230.
Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica. (2025). SEPAR recommendations on vaccination for adult patients with respiratory disease. Archivos de Bronconeumología, 61(4), 221–230.
About
DISC Health
The Health Equity Action Lab (HEAL) is an initiative by Dynasty Interactive Screen Community aimed at addressing health disparities in the U.S. and globally. By engaging media and stakeholders, HEAL seeks to reduce health inequalities and raise awareness. Their approach includes overcoming socio historical barriers and confronting the institutional, social, and political factors that perpetuate healthcare inequality.
Howard University Hospital (HUH)
Howard University Hospital, established in 1862 as Freedmen’s Hospital, has a rich history of serving African Americans and training top medical professionals. Located in Washington, D.C., it is the only teaching hospital on the campus of a historically Black university. HUH is a Level 1 Trauma Center and a critical healthcare provider for underserved populations. It offers advanced medical services, including robotic surgery, and has received numerous accolades for excellence in specialties like heart care, stroke treatment, and radiology.
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Howard University Faculty Practice Plan (FPP)
The Howard University Faculty Practice Plan is a multi-specialty physician group in Washington, D.C., dedicated to advancing healthcare and eliminating health disparities. It offers comprehensive services, including primary and specialty care, mental health, imaging, and cancer care, all connected to Howard University Hospital. FPP emphasizes patient-centered, respectful care for the diverse community and provides free health screenings and events to promote wellness.
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Abut Dr. Frederick Echols
Dr. Fredrick L. Echols, MD, is a renowned public health expert, founder, and CEO of Population Health and Social Justice Consulting, LLC, with over 15 years of experience addressing complex health issues through evidence-based approaches. An Obama Foundation Global Leader and advocate for Black men’s health, Dr. Echols has held pivotal roles, including CEO of Cure Violence Global, Health Commissioner for St. Louis, and Chief of Communicable Diseases for Illinois. A graduate of prestigious public health programs, he has led COVID-19 responses, managed public health operations, and developed strategic partnerships globally. Dr. Echols is available for press interviews, speaking engagements, and consultations. Follow him on Facebook (@FredrickEchols), Instagram (@F.EcholsMD), and LinkedIn (@FredrickEcholsMD), or contact him at Fredrick.Echols@gmail.com or 404-386-1522.
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