Protect Yourself with a Flu Shot, Healthy Practices, and Our Cough and Cold Line

(WILMINGTON, Del. – October 1, 2025)

Cold weather brings more than just cozy sweaters and hot drinks—it also marks the arrival of flu season. As flu season approaches, taking simple precautions such as proper handwashing, getting your flu shot and knowing when and how to seek medical attention can help keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Get Quick Answers with ChristianaCare’s Cough and Cold Line

ChristianaCare is once again enhancing access to care by relaunching its Cough and Cold Line, providing individuals with a quick, reliable way to seek assistance with a simple phone call. Now available at 302-623-7400, the Cough and Cold Line provides a series of helpful prompts to assist callers in managing their symptoms effectively. It offers guidance on treating symptoms at home and provides the option to connect with ChristianaCare’s virtual primary care providers, ensuring timely care without delays.

The ChristianaCare Cough and Cold Line offers assistance for adults 18 and older, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Last year, ChristianaCare launched its Cough and Cold Line as respiratory illnesses surged in what was one of the worst cold and flu seasons in recent memory. In just seven weeks of operation, the line received more than 1,200 calls, highlighting the community’s need for accessible healthcare resources during cold and flu season.

“We are excited to relaunch the Cough and Cold Line as part of our proactive approach to supporting our community with essential resources that promote health and awareness during the cold and flu season,” said Cynthia Griffin, chief nursing officer of Community Care at ChristianaCare and cough and cold line project lead.

“Last year, we had to respond reactively to the high rates of respiratory illnesses that arose during flu season. This year, however, we’re taking early action by providing our community with the tools and information they need to stay healthy throughout the cold and flu season.”

Make a Plan to Get Your Flu Shot

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the upcoming U.S. fall and winter respiratory disease season is expected to be similar to last year in terms of peak hospitalizations from COVID-19, influenza and RSV.

The flu (influenza virus) spreads easily, especially in the fall and winter. Getting a flu shot can protect you and your loved ones from contracting the virus. A flu shot is especially important for children over age 6 months, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with other chronic health conditions.

“Healthy habits like handwashing, covering your cough, and getting your flu vaccine are our primary defenses to stay ahead this flu season,” said Priyanka Dixit-Patel, M.D., physician executive for Primary Care at ChristianaCare. “While these practices may seem minor, when practiced consistently, they significantly help protect both you and those around you. Being proactive and focused on prevention is the best medicine to help reduce the spread of illnesses during this time of year.”

Dr. Dixit-Patel also recommends that people consider getting a Covid-19 vaccine at the same time as their flu shot.

“It’s important to consult your primary care provider to determine if a Covid booster is suitable for you,” Dr. Dixit-Patel said. “Your primary care provider can help you understand the available options and advise you on the best course of action tailored to your individual needs.

“Additionally, having at-home testing kits can provide valuable information to your provider when considering the most effective care plan for you.”

All ChristianaCare GoHealth Urgent Care facilities offer flu shots, along with quick and affordable treatment for cold and flu symptoms. Most facilities are open seven days a week until 8 p.m., and the Middletown and Dover locations are open until midnight.

Follow These Tips to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

• Lather up. Washing your hands with soap removes germs, making them less likely to infect your respiratory system when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Rub your hands for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing all surfaces. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. If you think you have a respiratory infection, wear a mask to protect yourself and others. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
• Avoid close contact. Keeping physical distance from others if you are sick — or even think you are sick — can protect them from getting sick, too.
• Stay home when you are sick. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
2. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

For the most up-to-date information (such as frequently asked questions and other resources) on the flu and flu shots this year, visit the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s flu webpage at CDC.gov/flu.

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About ChristianaCare

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic health care organizations, centered on improving health outcomes, and innovating to make high-quality care more accessible, equitable and affordable. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of primary care and outpatient services, home health care, urgent care centers, four hospitals (1,440 beds), a freestanding emergency department, a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. It also includes the pioneering Gene Editing Institute and a 10-bed neighborhood hospital in West Grove, PA.

ChristianaCare is nationally recognized as a great place to work. ChristianaCare is rated by Newsweek as one of the World’s Best Hospitals and is continually ranked among the best in the U.S. in national quality and safety ratings. ChristianaCare is a nonprofit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. With its groundbreaking Center for Virtual Health and a focus on population health and value-based care, ChristianaCare is shaping the future of health care.

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