The Iowa Department of Public Health is recommending you get a flu shot as soon as possible to be sure you are protected.  Department Medical Director Caitlin Pedati says there’s a lot of input in the strain of flu picked for the flu shot.

There have been years when the strains picked for the vaccine are not as effective as others, but Doctor Pedati says it is still best to get the shot.

The flu season usually starts to hit full steam at the end of October or in early November. The I-D-P-H says there were 272 flu-related deaths in Iowa during last year’s flu season.