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Still Not too Late to Get Flu Shot

Flu season is far from over. In fact many medical experts believe, this season may be one of the worst seasons ever. The Centers for Disease Control said the nu...

Flu season is far from over.

In fact many medical experts believe, this season may be one of the worst seasons ever.

The Centers for Disease Control said the number of cases this time compared to last year has gone up more than five times.

But doctors said it's not too late to get protected.

Flu season comes and goes every year but this year experts said, is very different.

"At this time of the year many states that are seeing in the thousands this year have maybe seen fifty or a hundred cases so it's really, really hitting people hard very early," said Dr. Richard Besser, Chief Health Editor for ABC News.  

Dr. Besser said this is the earliest we've seen the flu in almost a decade.

In Bloomsburg, some people tell Newswatch 16, they've already gotten their flu shot.

Doctors said, it's the best way to prevent the flu.

Especially for those who are at high risk, children, elderly, pregnant women or people with disorders.

"I have asthma, I get it every year, so if I get a nasty flu, then it really does a number on me, so I get it every year," said Chris Keller of Bloomsburg.

Others said, they're not quite sure even getting the flu shot will help them at all.

"It worries me even though I got the flu shot, I think I can still get the flu, and because somebody like me, my immune system is very low," said Doreen Jowi of Bloomsburg.

Still, others don't believe the hype one bit. If they are healthy, they don't need the flu shot.

"If I'm healthy, if I eat right, if I take my vitamins, I'll be fine," says Emily Warunek of Millville.

And experts said, that's probably one of the biggest misconceptions out there, if you are not in a high risk group, that will prevent you from getting the flu, but doctors said that may not necessarily be true, and it's never too late to get a flu shot.

"Some years it goes for months extending into March, not unusual even when there's an early flu season, so if you haven't gotten it I would go ahead and get it," said Dr. Besser.

Free flu shots will be given all weekend long at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

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