Don't Wait To Get Your Flu Shot! - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

If you haven't had your flu shot yet, don't wait any longer!

Health officials said this is the earliest start of the flu season in nearly a decade and this year is looking like a bad one.

The Centers for Disease Control said Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas are all reporting higher than normal numbers of cases.

Federal health officials said the most common strain this year tends to make people sicker than usual, but this year's vaccine seems to protect against it better than past years.

And don't wait until someone you know has it!

[CG :cg1-LWR3\Josh Vestal a pharmacist at Fritz's Pharmacy in Greenbrier County said, "That usually makes more room for people to get the flu and then pass it on to others. Obviously the sooner you get the vaccine the better and the more time your body has to build up a defense to it."

This year's strain is particularly hard on the elderly, but Charlie Friedman from Greenbrier County said it's just as much about protecting others as it is protecting yourself.

Friedman said, "Well it's a small needle it doesn't hurt that much, but I think it's worth it because I wouldn't want you giving me the flu, if you didn't get your shot."

People who are very young, very old, or who have health problems are at greatest risk but the flu can knock anyone out of work or school for at least a week.

Protecting yourself from a week or more of sickness and hundreds of dollars in medications is as easy has heading over to your local pharmacy, for about $20 - $25 and waiting about 5 to 10 minutes to get your flu shot."

And Vestal said that myth about getting the flu from the shot... Don't be fooled.

Vestal said, "People have the idea that the flu vaccine may cause the flu, in reality that has never been proven and it has been shown to NOT cause the flu."

On average, about 24,000 Americans die each flu season, according to the centers for disease control and prevention.