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Your Health This Fall

Learn what you can do to stay safe and healthy during the fall season.

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Last updated: August 16, 2024

Fall is here, which may mean new routines and different health and safety concerns.

Fall means cooler weather, shorter days, the start of cold and flu season, and a return to school for kids. Our children are back in school or daycare, which can mean new activities and greater exposure to germs. With less hours of daylight, many of us may participate in less physical activity.

Learn how to take care of your health, stay active and eat well this fall.

Staying healthy this fall

Back to school

For information about how to help your child stay safe and learn healthy lifestyle habits this school year, visit our Back to school health feature.

Find resources for K-12 Schools about preventing the spread of communicable diseases, including COVID-19, for students and parents, school staff and school administrators.

Get vaccinated

Immunizations, also known as vaccinations, help protect you from getting an infectious disease. When you get vaccinated, you help protect others as well. Vaccines are very safe for you and your family. It is much safer to get a vaccine than an infectious disease.

For more information on immunizations, including routine childhood immunizations, travel vaccinations and flu vaccinations, see our Vaccinations Health Feature and the B.C. Immunization Schedules.

Healthy eating

Fall can be a busy season with back-to-school and a change in routine from the summer months. Planning meals and snacks ahead of time can help make a busy schedule more manageable and mealtimes more enjoyable. Including a variety of nutritious foods and drinking plenty of water will support your immune system and help keep you healthy during cold and flu season. Learn about healthy eating this fall:

For additional healthy eating information or advice, call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered dietitian or email a HealthLinkBC dietitian.

Stay active

Don’t let the shorter and cooler days keep you from staying active. Physical activity is a key factor in keeping you and your family healthy:

For more physical activity information or guidance, call 8-1-1 to speak with a qualified exercise professional or email Physical Activity Services.

Understanding health risks during fall

Respiratory illnesses

Several respiratory viruses are causing illness in B.C. including COVID-19 and influenza (flu). For resources to support you during respiratory illness season including information on vaccines, visit the Handling respiratory illnesses page.

Cold weather

Learn what you can do to make sure you stay safe as the temperature drops:

Indoor air quality

With shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures, you might spend more time indoors. Learn about indoor air quality and how to stay safe:

Make sure to test your carbon monoxide detectors regularly and replace the batteries every 6 months. An easy way to remember this is to change the batteries when you set the clock back (in the fall) or forward (in the spring):

Mental health

Changes in routine, staying indoors more and getting less physical activity can affect your mental health. Shorter days, especially when we set the clocks back for daylight saving time, mean getting less sunshine:

Seasonal allergies

Pollen, molds, dust mites and other allergens can cause fall seasonal allergies. Learn about seasonal allergies, including triggers, symptoms and home treatment:

When to take antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria and can treat infections such as strep throat or sinus infections. They do not work against illnesses caused by a virus such as the common cold, coronavirus (COVID-19) or the flu. Learn more about when you should and shouldn’t use antibiotics:

For more information about using antibiotics, visit AntibioticWise.ca