RALEIGH -- North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper joined State Health Director Betsey Tilson, M.D., on at Wake County Human Services to encourage North Carolinians to get vaccinated against the flu.

Cooper got her flu shot at the Wake County Human Services Immunization Clinic, which was holding its first of three clinics for Wake County employees.

“A flu shot is a simple step that is vitally important to protecting yourself during flu season,” said Cooper. “Not only does it protect you, it protects people around you, including your friends and family.”

Flu infections are most common from late fall to early spring in North Carolina with activity usually peaking in January or February. The CDC recommends yearly vaccination against the flu for everyone 6 months and older. For the second year in a row, the CDC is recommending the injectable vaccine instead of the nasal spray because of concerns about the nasal spray’s effectiveness.

“A flu shot can protect you for the duration of the flu season, which typically ends in early spring,” said Tilson, who spends her Tuesday mornings taking care of patients at Wake County Human Services' Child Health Clinic. “We recommend that people get vaccinated before the end of October. Spread of the flu can be more effectively prevented if more people get vaccinated early in the season.”

During the 2016-17 flu season, 219 flu deaths were reported in North Carolina, a reminder that it can be a serious illness – especially for adults older than 65, children younger than 5, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.