Oklahoma Health Experts Encourage Vaccines, Good Hygiene Practices As School Year Begins

Doctors across Green Country are getting prepared for illnesses that typically come with the cooler weather and the start of the new school year.

While the summer hasn't been as busy as the fall typically is for Dr. Matthew Else, a family medicine physician at Utica Park Clinic, he said he's started seeing more patients as school gets underway.

Else said as kids get back into the classroom and the weather eventually starts cooling down, there is usually an uptick in illnesses like strep, the flu and COVID-19.

Else says washing your hands can help keep you healthy, but he also suggested getting this year's flu and COVID-19 shots.

"Just like every year we have to get the flu shot, unfortunately, the COVID-19 vaccine will also be one of those annual fall shots that we are planning for," Else said. "Pretty soon, we will actually have one shot that will combine both of those vaccines and that will make it a little bit easier for everyone."

Else also said that one of the reasons he typically sees more people get sick a little more often as weather cools down is because people start gathering more indoors, and illnesses such as strep, the flu and COVID-19 can spread easier indoors when people are closer together.

In addition to things like vaccines, Else said good hygiene can help slow the spread of different illnesses.

"We can see a lot more community spread, especially within the household," Elsa said. "If one person picks it up, they tend to bring it home and spread it to everyone else. The more we can all practice the safe hygiene and isolating ourselves if we are showing any symptoms, the better we can keep those illnesses at bay."

Else says to keep illnesses from spreading, if you feel sick, to take note of your symptoms and see a doctor in addition to staying home from work or school until you feel better.