The common cold is frequently treated by family physicians. Although it is generally benign, the symptoms can last for several days, causing missed work and study days. To examine prevention of this condition, we searched the English literature for meta-analyses on prevention of the common cold including influenza on PubMed from 2007 to the end of 2017. There were at least two or more meta-analyses on probiotics, vitamin D, and echinacea, and all of them showed significant preventive effects of these agents. Although one meta-analysis showed that pelargonium, zinc, polyvalent mechanical bacterial lysate, hand hygiene and wearing masks, exercise, and repairing buildings damaged by dampness and mould offered significant preventive effects, vitamin C had only a marginal effect on prevention. Further examinations are needed to clarify the effects of various measures to prevent the common cold.