Get ready for flu and cold season with AI

3 min readHealth

Questions for your pharmacist, a sick-day plan and a simple supply list, ready before the first sniffle.

Fall is a good time to get ready for the cold months, before anyone feels sick. An AI chat app like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude can help you write down your questions, make lists and understand confusing papers. It is not a doctor or a pharmacist, so use it to get organized and then ask the people who know you.

Step 1: Questions to ask about your flu shot and other shots

Tell AI a little about you and ask for questions, not answers.

Example: "I'm 72 and have high blood pressure. Write a short list of questions to ask my pharmacist about this year's flu shot and any other shots people my age ask about. Big, simple wording."

Take the list to the pharmacy or your doctor's office. They know your health history and can tell you what fits you and when.

Step 2: Keep a medication list you can hand over

If you get sick, someone may ask what you take.

Example: "Turn this into a neat medication list with name, dose and when I take it, plus a line for allergies and my doctor's phone number."

Then type or paste what's on your bottles.

Print it and keep one copy on the fridge and one in your wallet. Our doctor visit guide shows how to use the same list at appointments.

Step 3: A sick-day plan and supply list

Plan now so a bad cold is less stressful.

Example: "I live alone. Make a sick-day plan: who to call, a short list of supplies to keep at home, easy foods, and how to get groceries or medicine delivered if I can't go out."

Ask AI to put the supply list in store order so you can get it all in one trip.

Step 4: Understand the papers

Insurance letters and pharmacy handouts can be hard to read. Take a photo or paste the text and ask: "Explain this in plain words. What do I need to do, and by when?" Our guide to reading small print with your phone camera shows how.

If you're on Medicare, our Medicare Open Enrollment guide helps you check what your plan covers before Dec 7.

Things to know

• AI can be wrong about health facts. Use it for lists and plain-English explanations, and check anything medical with your pharmacist, nurse line or doctor.
• Don't paste your Social Security number, insurance member number or full date of birth into an AI chat. You don't need them for any of these steps.
• If you feel very sick, have trouble breathing or have chest pain, call your doctor or 911. Don't ask a chat app.

Also read: Use AI to get ready for a doctor visit

Also read: Read small print with your phone camera and AI

Also read: Using AI to get ready for Medicare Open Enrollment

Also read: Use AI to get your home ready for winter