As influenza-associated hospitalizations peaked in early January this past season, there’s still time to consider getting a flu vaccination.

Though the flu vaccine is not 100% effective it can reduce the risk of hospitalizations and protect those most vulnerable according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, which means the sooner you receive it the sooner who can protect yourself from viruses spreading at school, work, public places, or family gatherings.

Influenza activity is low in Iowa according to the most recent activity report from the Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network (IISN), with 32 hospitalizations reported so far this season. Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber shares other ways people can try to avoid the flu, “The flu is a virus and so it is spread through contact, physical contact. It’s an airborne virus so coughing and sneezing, so we highly recommend that people take some basic precautions when they’re out and about. Making sure to wash your hands very thoroughly after you go to the restroom and continually washing throughout the day, you’re touching a lot of things the virus is out there. Making sure to cover your cough and sneeze when you’re coughing and sneezing and making sure that maybe you take some hand sanitizer with you as well, so when you can’t wash your hands you’re able to apply that hand sanitizer to just kill the virus right before it can get to you.”

No appointment is necessary to get a flu shot at Guthrie County Public Health on Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Flu shots are available at pharmacies, medical clinics, and from your medical provider.