TULSA -- Flu season is right around the corner and experts say it is time to get your flu shot.
The U.S. Government estimates 80,000 people died from the virus last season.
Ellen Niemitalo, manager of clinic services for the Tulsa Health Department, said it was also a rough year in Oklahoma.
"There were over 4,400 hospitalizations related to the flu last year and over 200 deaths in Oklahoma," Niemitalo said. "We know that receiving the flu vaccine is the single most important thing someone can do to prevent them from getting the flu disease."
The flu season is usually from October to May but Niemitalo said it usually gets bad at the end of January or early February.
Already, seven people were hospitalized in Oklahoma in August for the flu.
She said last year's flu shot was about 30-percent effective and every year the formula is changed to hopefully match the strain going around.
Pharmacies around Oklahoma are already giving out the flu shot. The Tulsa Health Department starts administering theirs on Oct. 1.
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