With flu season commencing, News 12 spoke with Cynthia Diaz, a nurse practitioner at American Family Care. She says the flu can lead to hospitalizations and even death in severe case. Symptoms of the flu include:

Diaz is encouraging community members to get their influenza shot, saying it takes about two weeks for the effects of the flu vaccine to fully set in.

She says a flu shot can cause mild symptoms of the flu, but nothing as severe than getting the virus. Diaz says urgent care centers like American Family Care offer flu shots accepted by most insurances, but its best to call ahead to see if you are covered.