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 7/10/2024 Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "About Handwashing." https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Handwashing Facts." https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/data-research/facts-stats/. National Library of Medicine. "Hand Washing Practices in a College Town Environment." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23621052/. Related stories