SALT LAKE CITY — While we prepare our Thanksgiving seating arrangements and food assignments, we should also prepare our health. This time of year, we gather with large groups of friends and family. And while we spread holiday cheer, we also spread disease.

“The week after Thanksgiving and the week after Christmas and New Years, we tend to see a large increase in hospitalizations and Emergency Department visits.” said Pamela Gomez, Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist, Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Most vaccines take about two weeks to be fully effective. But we have a little less than that until Thanksgiving.

“Even if you’re not getting that full protection, your body will begin to use that vaccine to build immunity within a few days. So, it’s really never too late, but i

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