SACRAMENTO – With the influenza season now upon us, Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer, is urging Californians to get a flu shot.

While flu activity in California remains low with no laboratory confirmed outbreaks or deaths, now is the time to get immunized.

Influenza can cause severe disease across all age groups.

According to the California influenza surveillance report recently published, there were 404 influenza-associated deaths reported in persons under 65 years of age in California during the 2013-14 influenza season.

This was the highest number of deaths reported to CDPH since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza and related complications are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, associated with thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year in the U.S.

“Influenza is much more serious than the common cold and has the potential of causing serious illness and death,” said Chapman. “But there is something we can do about it – getting vaccinated now is the best way to protect ourselves and our family against influenza and its complications.”

CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older, including pregnant women. Healthy people between two and 49 years of age, who are not pregnant, may opt for the nasal spray flu vaccine instead of a shot.

All 2014-2015 flu vaccines protects against an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus, and some also protect against a second influenza B virus. This year’s flu vaccine contains the same strains that were part of the 2013-14 flu vaccine.

To stop the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses, Californians should also:

– Stay home when sick.
– Cover a cough or sneeze by using your elbow or a tissue and properly disposing of the used tissue.
– Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoiding contact with your eyes, nose and mouth.

Dr. Chapman encourages Californians to contact their health care provider, physician office, clinic, or pharmacy who are now offering flu vaccines.

Some local health departments may also offer low or no cost flu immunizations.

For more information about influenza visit the CDPH influenza Web page, http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx .

To find a flu vaccine location near you, visit www.flu.gov .