Flu Season Is Here; What's Different About This Year's Vaccine

Flu season officially starts this week and doctors are watching the virus closely to see how it compares to last season. So, could we be in for a nasty flu season?

The annual flu vaccine is in. But is it effective? Last year, the shot was only 19 percent effective, but there are changes.

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) said this year's vaccine has four strains of the flu in it, which caters to all communities across the nation. Right now, the organization said flu activity is low but outbreaks normally begin in October.

Keep this in mind, predicting the severity of the flu each year is like predicting the Super Bowl. Manufactures can make an educated guess but it's not always 100 percent spot on.

"The CDC works very hard to anticipate what strains of flu will be circulating in our communities to build that flu vaccine, and this year it is a little bit different. The flu vaccine is different than it was last year,” said Casie Stoughton, Director of Public Health.

The CDC  said the vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the virus. If you want one, now is the time since it takes two weeks for the body to build up immunity.

You can get the shot CVS, Walgreens, Target, Wal-Mart and the Oklahoma County Health Department.