HEALTH NEWSOct. 16, 2007 (KABC) -- October is the official start of flu season, which means it's time to start thinking about getting a flu shot.
L.A. County Public Health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding says even though the flu shot is not 100 percent effective, the latest findings show it's up to 70 percent effective in people under 50 and it can reduce 50 percent of deaths and flu-related complications in the elderly.
And for people who don't like needles, the government has also approved the nasal vaccine flu mist for healthy people aged two to 49.
People strongly urged to get shots include anyone with a chronic medical condition, an immune system problem, pregnant women, patients in nursing homes, child and elderly care providers and young children. And Dr. Fielding says this year, there's no reason why a healthy person shouldn't get a shot.
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