Planning to gather for Thanksgiving with family and friends? Both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions are playing that day, so there’s an extra incentive to settle down with a crowd post-meal to relax and let everything digest.

Knowing that people will be coming together for the holidays next week and in December, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommends getting flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines to hopefully ward off what others might be harboring.

Few Wisconsin residents so far have taken advantage of the protection vaccines can provide, according to a DHS news release.

DHS data show only 22% of Wisconsinites have received a flu shot this season, and just 11% have received an updated COVID-19 vaccine. With flu, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and COVID-19 cases starting to rise, now is the time to get a vaccine.

“Any time is a good time to get vaccinated, but if you haven’t yet, at least two weeks ahead of holiday gatherings is really the best time to get vaccinated,” DHS Immunization Program Manager Dr. Stephanie Schauer said. “It takes a couple weeks after getting a vaccine for your body to build protection against these viruses, which can protect you from getting really sick and can help prevent you from spreading illness to others.”

So yes, it is past time for these vaccinations to boost immunity in time for Thanksgiving — but still worth getting for the rest of the season as people spend more time indoors during the winter.

The DHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend these respiratory vaccines —

— Flu: Recommended for everyone age 6 months and older.

— COVID-19: Recommended for everyone 6 months and older. People 65 years and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive a second dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine six months after the first dose.

— RSV: Recommended for pregnant people, young children under 9 months and adults 75 years and older. Young children ages 9 to 19 months and adults ages 60 to 74 with increased risk of RSV are also encouraged to get immunized.

“Wisconsin tends to see an uptick in flu, RSV and COVID-19-related hospitalizations after the November holidays as we head into December,” DHS Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Tom Haupt said in the release. “If you are planning to gather for the holidays and are feeling sick, stay home and talk to a doctor about getting tested for COVID-19, influenza, RSV or other respiratory viruses.”

To find and schedule a vaccine, Wisconsin residents are encouraged to check with their primary care provider, local or tribal health department, community clinic or go to vaccines.gov. Wisconsinites can also call 211 or 877-947-2211 for help scheduling a vaccine appointment. Programs are available to help those who do not have health insurance or their health insurance does not cover vaccines, including the Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program.

In addition to getting recommended vaccines, other things can prevent respiratory illnesses, including washing hands regularly, cleaning surfaces, gathering outside if possible or bringing outside air in, eating healthy, exercising, drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest.

For more information about COVID-19, the flu and RSV, go to the DHS website, https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/.