MARQUETTE -- Each year, thousands of U.S. citizens die of the flu and 200,000 are hospitalized.  This year is expected to be no different.  But you don't have to be a statistic. The flu virus can be prevented with a simple prick of a needle or sniff of a spray.

This year's flu vaccine is already available, and the CDC suggests you don't delay your dose.

"As soon as vaccine is available for flu, people should take advantage of getting that so that the vaccine has time to be in your system and help you to develop antibodies to fight against the flu prior to the flu getting here," said Corrine Brownell, Personal Health Division Director for the Marquette County Health Department.

Vaccination can start as young as six months, and there's no age limit.  In fact, those most susceptible to the flu are the youngest and the oldest in our population.  Physicians say the more who get vaccinated annually, the merrier.

"When we are getting immunized, we are protecting not only ourselves, but we are protecting others," said Dr. Kevin Piggott, Medical Director of Community Health at Marquette General Hospital.

While it's still too early to predict exactly what the flu virus is going to do this year and how strong it's going to be, one thing the CDC can project is that this year's strains are going to be very similar to last year's, and they've created one vaccine to cover all of them.

So is there anyone who shouldn't get a shot?  Vicki Morstad posted on our Facebook:  “My husband has only had one flu shot; that year he was sicker than he's ever been in his life."  Physicians say reactions are rare, and unless advised otherwise, get vaccinated.

"It cannot cause influenza," Dr. Piggott said.  "Some people do feel a little under the weather for a day or two; that's generally indicative of their immune system responding to it."

As physicians explained to me, the only people who shouldn't get vaccinated are those with severe egg allergies or people who have had severe anaphylactic reactions to shots in the past.

For a list of clinics to find out where you can get your immunization, visit the MCHD website.