BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - In recent weeks you may have noticed various pharmacies promoting that it's time to get the flu shot.
Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein is among the health experts that urge you to get this year's vaccine despite the lack of data that said how effective this year's vaccine is.
"There's also a nose spray for people who are adverse to needle," she said.
This year's flu vaccines protect against multiple strains of influenza. Burstein said the varieties help boost immune response in certain individuals, such as seniors.
If you're one of those people who are reluctant to get the vaccine out of fear you'll get the flu as a result of the vaccine, Burstein said it's biologically impossible because the vaccine is a synthetic and doesn't actually put the virus inside you.
"It's just proteins that look like viral components of viral particles," she said. "It's very safe and very effective."
Peak flu season will be in January and February for the influenza A strain. There's another spike in the early spring.
Read more about the influenza virus from the Erie County Department of Health.