The flu pandemic has left many concerned especially with talk of a vaccine shortage.  But that doesn’t mean there is a shortage on ways to prevent you from getting sick.  Here are three simple steps that will protect your health not just now but all year long.

Step 1  Be sure you regularly disinfect the kitchen sink, the trash can, the bathroom faucet and the tub. These places harbor a lot of germs. The champion of the contamination? The kitchen sponge. Clean it in the dishwasher weekly.

Step 2  Lace up your sneakers and take a brisk walk five times a week. Regular exercise can help reduce chances of catching a cold.

Step 3  Include probiotics in your daily diet to help your immune system ward off bad bacteria. Try yogurt, fortified drinks, or a tasty treat like the 90-calorie Attune Milk Chocolate Crip Probiotic Bar.

With all the concerns over seasonal flu and swine flu (H1N1) vaccinations and whether the vaccinations will be delivered in time…you may be wondering if there is anything you can do on your own to protect yourself from the pandemic. Here are some home remedies that could save you from being infected.

1. Wash your hands with soap in warm to hot water. The amount of infection that could be transferred to other parts of the body can be reduced. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

3. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you must have close contact with a sick person (for example, hold a sick infant), try to wear a facemask or N95 disposable respirator

4. Clean your nose.  Dip a cotton swab in warm salt water and clean out your nostrils. Right before bedtime is a great time to do this. The salty water will cleanse your nostrils and prevent anything that may have settled in your nose from germinating further.

5. Bring on the Vitamin C. Vitamin C supplements and eating lots of foods that are high in Vitamin C can give your immune system just the boost it needs to ward off the flu and other virus’ that may be lurking around.

Lenneice A. Drew is an experienced journalist currently focused on healthcare reform. She is working to help others achieve better lives by finding affordable health insurance alternatives and reporting stories related to the healthcare industry. She lives in Miami, Florida.

H1N1 is still going around, in fact one of our Agent’s daughter caught the virus. Consider vaccinating your child from the Virus, but be aware of the following comment found on WebMD:

One shot of the vaccine raised protective antibodies in 76% of older children, a level of protection considered very good for flu vaccines. But a single dose of the vaccine protects only 36% of 3- to 9-year-olds, and only 25% of children age 6 months to 35 months.

Be sure to consult your Doctor before rushing into any vaccination facilities. Make sure that your child may not have any allergic reaction to the flue vaccine. Take every precaution as well to keep your child from bacteria and germs.

One of our co workers*cough*Alyssa*cough* decided to come in when she was deathly ill. She started off with a cough which within hours turned into a full blown cold. You get chills, then you start shivering. You get a temperature up to 103 degrees and maybe even get water in your lungs making you cough and hiccup painfully. The major symptoms go away in about a day or a day and a half, its full course probably about a week or so but it is exceptionally contagious…naturally I got it as well. I coughed so hard I have sore pains in my stomach and solar plexus. Sleeping was a nightmare, when I shifted positions I would cough violently.  Take precaution with this flu going around, I have heard of so many people being out sick and half of our office was infected with this cold.

Do your workmates a favor, when you are sick, stay home if possible especially when you have a chronic cough or sneezing. Work from home or a starbucks but don’t infect your workmates!

If you must come to work, wear a mask,  use Hand Sanitizer and keep away from physical contact with others and objects unless you absolutely have too…gloves could come in handy to.

Also, DON’T Cover up when you get the chills, you will just incubate your fever making it worse.  Take some cool showers and make sure to drink plenty of liquids. Your appetite may go to so stock up on a couple of Ensure or Boost nutritional drinks.