Late Night Health

In this special holiday-season edition of Late Night Health, host Mark Alyn sits down with Samantha Picking, Senior Director of Immunizations at Walgreens, to discuss what may be one of the most unpredictable respiratory virus seasons in recent years. With increased travel, family gatherings, and colder weather converging, the conversation focuses on how Americans can protect themselves against flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumonia during the busiest time of year.Picking explains that respiratory illnesses historically ramp up in December, driven largely by holiday travel and social gatherings. To help consumers stay informed, she highlights the Walgreens Respiratory Index, a publicly available online tool that tracks real-time flu and COVID-19 activity nationwide. According to the index, California currently ranks in the middle of the pack for acute respiratory illness activity—an encouraging sign, but one that can change quickly given how unpredictable virus spread can be.A major theme of the discussion centers