Keeping Kids Healthy at School During Cold/Flu Season

November 22, 2024

Now that winter is on its way, prioritizing your child’s health will prevent them from catching the common cold or influenza. Viral infections like these can be spread through the air, making them highly contagious. These illnesses may cause your child to take sick days and miss important learning opportunities. Knowing this, it’s vital that they keep up with daily healthy habits so they can have a strong year.


Fortunately, at Lewis, we carry a variety of essential health items and offer immunizations to combat cold and flu season. We aim to serve our community and provide the necessary resources for optimal health in any way we can. Below is a list of key tips to ensure a healthy school year, with items that you can find at our stores.

Flu Shots

Getting an annual flu vaccine is often the first line of defense against illness. Immunizations reduce the risk of illness, hospitalizations, and, in severe cases, death. The pharmacy team at most Lewis Drug locations can administer these shots to anyone older than 6 months.

You can schedule an appointment ahead of time for you and your child to receive the flu shot. We also accept walk-ins. Most insurance will cover this immunization.

Prevent illnesses with essential vitamins

In most cases, proper nutrients for your child can be found in their meals— that is if they are getting a balanced diet. The essential vitamins can be found in food like meat and vegetables and are vital for preventing illnesses. But say you are unable to give your child a fully balanced diet if they are a picky eater. If that is the case, they won’t be getting the necessary vitamins they need.

A children’s multivitamin is effective for fulfilling their nutritional needs. Those free of dye or sugars have become increasingly popular, with many brands to select from. We carry a wide variety of kid-friendly vitamin supplements that fulfill nutritional needs, including vitamins like vitamin D and iron. Vitamin D helps maintain a functioning immune system. Iron promotes cognitive function, helping them learn and retain knowledge.

Various other vitamins like vitamins A, C, and B12 are also valuable to your child’s health, especially during cold and flu season. Vitamin A supports vision and growth, C strengthens the immune system and aids the body in healing, and B12 turns food into energy. If you can’t find a children’s multivitamin that supports all these, consider giving your child additional supplements if they’re not getting enough nutrients in their food.

Preventing the spread of germs

Encouraging your child to have good hygiene is more than just ensuring they bathe, brush their teeth, and wear clean clothes. It’s a way for your child to fight against germs and harmful bacteria during the cold and flu season. In places with heavy foot traffic, like a school, germs can be found on just about any surface. Knowing this, giving your child hand sanitizer to keep in their backpack and educating them on the importance of washing their hands will go a long way.

Handwashing prevents the spread of germs. Not only that, but drying your hands after washing them also aids in mitigating the spread. Teaching your child how to properly wash their hands will protect them and their classmates and teachers from viruses.

It’s also helpful to pack hand sanitizer in your child’s backpack or first aid kit in case they need to clean their hands, but a sink is not nearby. Please note that hand sanitizer is not a direct alternative to handwashing as it’s not as successful at killing germs, but it is better than nothing.

Where to find necessary nutrients

As noted before, essential vitamins can be found in a lot of food. If you’re interested in packing healthy snacks for your child, look for foods high in nutrients like protein and fiber and low in sugar.

Below is a list of some common kid-friendly healthy snacks, even for the pickiest of eaters, that you can find at Lewis:

  • Granola bars

  • Applesauce

  • Nuts

  • Whole-grain crackers

Avoid packing foods with heavy dyes or artificial sweeteners. These types of foods can be harmful to your child’s diet, making them more susceptible to illnesses.

Well-rounded healthy habits

Giving your child comprehensive, holistic health resources is necessary for protecting their immune systems. From washing their hands to getting a balanced diet, these simple habits make a huge difference in your child’s life and will shield them during the cold and flu season. Lewis offers the items you’ll need to give your child all-encompassing care, from multivitamins to hand sanitizer. We welcome you to visit any of our locations, explore our aisles, and talk with our friendly staff, who are happy to help you find anything you’re looking for in our stores.

At Lewis, our focus is our guests. For anyone who walks through our doors, ensuring you have the proper resources to take care of your family and yourself is our prerogative. It’s why we’re here.