Regular handwashing can help you avoid illnesses like the flu. Another important step? Getting the flu vaccine every year. Find out if you're on the list of people for whom the vaccine is especially important. Reviewed 8/3/2023 Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Show Me the Science—How to Wash Your Hands." https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.html. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "When and How to Wash Your Hands." https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html. National Library of Medicine. "Hand Washing Practices in a College Town Environment." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23621052/. Related stories