What to do if you're sick | Vermont Department of Health

What to do if you're sick | Vermont Department of Health
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What to do if you're sick
Respiratory Illnesses
Flu, COVID & RSV Vaccines
Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
What to do if you're sick
Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont
Respiratory Illness Clinical Guidance for Health Care Providers
Outbreak Information for Schools and Group Living Settings
Respiratory Illness Communications Materials
What to Do if You’re Sick
If you’re feeling sick, it’s important to take care of yourself and help prevent spreading illness to others. Common symptoms like cough, runny nose, fever, or sore throat can be caused by different seasonal viruses. This page shares simple steps you can take to feel better, know when to seek medical care, and protect the people around you.
I got my shots, why did I still get sick?
It’s still possible to get the flu or COVID even if you’ve had your shots. Vaccines for flu and COVID aren’t perfect. You can still get sick and might miss a few days of work or school. But their strongest benefit is making sickness less severe and shorter, lowering your chances of needing urgent or emergency care.
Recognize the symptoms.
Symptoms of respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID and RSV are often similar, like cough, fever, sore throat, and fatigue.
Flu:
sudden fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue
COVID:
fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
RSV:
Runny nose, congestion, decrease in appetite, cough, sneezing, fever, wheezing. In very young infants, their only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.
If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, severe dehydration, confusion, or your child is very lethargic, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.
Consider getting tested.
Testing can help you decide what to do next, like getting treatment and taking steps to lower your chances of getting other people sick.
COVID Testing
You can buy self-tests (sometimes called at-home tests) online or at pharmacies and retail stores. You can also get tested at a pharmacy, health center, or your health care provider's office.
If you test positive, take steps to prevent further spread and monitor your symptoms. If you have risk factors for severe illness, call your provider right away for treatment.
Learn more about testing (CDC)
Flu and RSV Testing
Ask your health care provider if testing is needed. Testing may be important if you are at higher risk for complications.
Start treatment early.
Flu Antivirals
Antivirals are prescription medicines, like Tamiflu, that can make flu illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They can also prevent complications. Your doctor may prescribe antivirals. They work best when started within two days after your symptoms start.
Antivirals are strongly recommended for people at
higher risk of severe flu complications
or anyone who is very sick.
Antivirals are optional for healthy adults and children with mild flu.
Learn more (CDC)
COVID-19 Antivirals
Medications, like Paxlovid, are available for people who are at
higher risk for severe illness
. These medications reduce your risk of hospitalization and death. Treatment must be started within 5-7 days after your symptoms start.
You don't need a positive test to start treatment, so if you get sick (even if symptoms are mild) and are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your health care provider as soon as possible.
Learn more (CDC)
RSV
There’s no specific medicine for RSV, but supportive care, like rest, fluids, and managing symptoms, helps most people. Babies and older adults may need extra monitoring.
Learn more (CDC)
Stay home and rest.
Stay home while you’re sick to avoid spreading illness.
Rest, drink fluids, and use fever-reducing medicine if needed.
Keep children home from school or child care until they’re feeling better.
More tips on how to feel better (Johns Hopkins)
Take steps to protect others.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Wash hands often.
Improve airflow by opening windows or using air filters if possible.
Wear a mask if you need to be around others while sick.
Small Actions = Big Protection
To follow what the science says about how respiratory viruses spread, here are two easy ways to help protect others:
Stay home for the first few days you’re sick. That’s when virus levels are highest and you’re most likely to spread germs.
Wear a mask for about a week when you’re around other people or back at work. This helps prevent passing germs to others as you recover.
Long COVID
Although most people with COVID-19 get better within weeks of illness, some people continue to experience new, returning or ongoing symptoms that can last months after first being infected. These post-COVID conditions are often known as
Long COVID
. Please contact your health care provider if you are experiencing long COVID symptoms.
October 27, 2025