It’s that time of year again — flu season. As family and friends are gathering for the holidays, flu activity is increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.

There are many reasons to get a flu vaccine:

• Flu vaccination can reduce your risk of flu illness, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu.
• Even if you are vaccinated and still get sick, the flu vaccine can reduce the severity of your illness.
• Flu vaccination also can help protect women during and after pregnancy and protect the baby born to a vaccinated mom for several months after birth.
• Flu vaccine also has been shown to save children’s lives, prevent serious events associated with chronic lung disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Flu vaccine has also been shown to prevent flu-related hospitalization among working age adults and older adults.

Getting vaccinated isn’t just about keeping you healthy; it’s also about helping to protect others around you who may be vulnerable to becoming very sick.

Anyone who gets the flu can pass it to someone, especially those at high risk of severe illness. As long as flu viruses are spreading and causing illness, vaccination should continue throughout flu season. The flu is not a “bad cold.” The flu can result in serious health complications, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, and can lead to hospitalization and in some cases, even proves fatal.

People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, and people 65 years and older.

IF you are 65 and older: the CDC, lists Fluzone High-Dose flu vaccine, as being specifically for people 65 years and older. Fluzone High-Dose contains four times the antigen (the part of the vaccine that helps your body build up protection against flu viruses) of standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccines. Ask your doctor if this is right for you.

So, now that you know that it is not too late to get a flu vaccine, protect yourself and your loved ones by getting vaccinated this flu season! To find a place near you to get a flu vaccine with the HealthMap Vaccine Finder.