How Can I Stay Safe from COVID During Holiday Travel?

A doctor's advice for smart ways to protect yourself when flying to see friends and family this season

Adam Rosenbluth, M.D.,

AARP

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Published December 16, 2024

illustrated gif of people flying on a plane

James Yates

What precautions against COVID and other illnesses can I take before and during a flight to visit my grandchildren?

I love the joy I see in my patients’ faces when they talk about their families, particularly among grandparents. They often say to me, “Adam, the only thing better than being a parent is being a grandparent.” That’s why when someone tells me they’re traveling to visit family, I’m 100 percent in their corner. At the same time, I’m thinking to myself: It’s my responsibility to help them get there safely so they can enjoy their time together.

Whenever we leave our natural environment, we increase our body’s risk of contracting an illness. That’s because your body is used to putting up a defense against familiar bacteria, but when you travel, you’re exposed to a new environment with different germs. Plus, if you’re going by plane or train, you’ll probably be coming into contact with large groups of people, and some of them may be contagious.

Before you take off, let’s go over a few measures you can follow to minimize your risk of getting sick. The best thing, if possible, is to try and avoid crowds. If driving is at all feasible, I suggest it. But most of us will have to deal with flying or long train or bus rides, which often means delayed or canceled flights and packed waiting areas. You’ll probably agree that traveling is stressful, and stress can wear down our immune systems.

Ahead of time, try to think of ways you might avoid stressful situations. It may mean bringing along healthy snacks or keeping your medications in a handy place. You might want to factor in extra time to reach your destination. For instance, my mom is going to be 90 this year, so when I made our holiday arrangements, I was careful not to book tightly timed connecting flights. Now I can worry less about missing our plane.

I know people are still quite concerned about COVID. The vaccine is recommended if you haven’t had COVID or the latest shot within the last 90 days; this is particularly true for high-risk individuals with other illnesses. Keep in mind that even though COVID is not the disease it once was, we can still get sick from it.

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I suggest you stay up to date on all your vaccines, including the flu vaccine and the RSV vaccine if you are over age 75 or are over 60 and have a chronic condition such as lung or heart disease. If you’re visiting a newborn, it’s crucial that your Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) immunization is current. This shot protects against whooping cough — an illness that is on the rise and can be dangerous for infants.

What about masking? Legally, you no longer have to wear a mask in most places. But if you’re in crowds, it’s still a good idea. Some folks feel safer wearing one on the plane or while using other forms of public transportation. High-quality masks such as N95 or KN95 will also protect against the flu and RSV.

Similarly, if you arrive at your grandchildren’s home and you’ve developed a case of the sniffles along the way, one of the kids has a cold or cough, or someone else is feeling under the weather, you’ll want to take the precaution of wearing a mask. Unfortunately, you might also want to hold back on that tight hug.

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I’m also a huge fan of regularly washing your hands. If you or the kids have a runny nose, be especially vigilant and try not to touch your face. Washing hands should last at least 20 seconds. A recent study in the journal The Lancet verified that handwashing significantly reduces the chance of spreading respiratory infections.

For all those parents and grandparents looking forward to getting together with their family, it’s not likely that you’ll catch something on the way and make your grandchildren sick. There’s a greater chance that your school-aged grandchildren will be the ones to pass along the sniffles or other infections to you. Is it worth the risk? If you’re feeling good now and you take the proper precautions, I say enjoy your holidays to the max. Go see your kids and get that big dose of joy.

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