SACRAMENTO – (INT) – October marks the traditional opening of the flu season.

Free flu shots are being prominently advertised.

In California, flu usually begins to increase in late November or December. It takes a couple of weeks after a vaccination for the body to build immunity. Health officials say that now is the time to get vaccinated to have the best protection.

A person with the flu may be contagious and infect others before they even feel sick.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the 2016–2017 season, flu immunization prevented an estimated 5.3 million illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits, and 85,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States.

The California Department of Public Health recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone six months of age and older.

Story Date: November 5, 2018