If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet this year, now is the time to get one.

The flu can have nasty symptoms for those who come down with it, but it can be life threatening for people with long-term health conditions. People with asthma, diabetes and heart disease are at a greater risk for serious complications from the flu.

As part of National Influenza Awareness Week, Onondaga County Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated.

There are two types of flu vaccines, the shot and the nasal spray. Health officials say millions of flu vaccines have been given safely over the years.

One common myth is that the flu vaccine can give you the flu. That's not true, health official say because the flu shot contains killed viruses and the nasal spray has weakened viruses that cannot cause illness. If you get flu-like symptoms soon after getting vaccinated, it may mean you've have been exposed to the flu before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period it takes your body to gain protection after vaccination. It could also mean you are sick with another illness that causes symptoms similar to the flu.

Remember, just because you got the vaccine last year, doesn't mean you're protected again this year. You need to get a shot each year to be protected.

The flu can be especially serious for babies, children, pregnant women, people 65 and older and people with certain long-term medical conditions. If you fall into one of those categories, make sure you get vaccinated. Also, African Americans are at increased risk of flu complications when they also have a chronic illness. Unfortunately, many African Americans are not getting an annual flu vaccine, leaving them at greater risk for flu and its complications. Only about 42 percent of eligible African Americans get an annual flu vaccine. Have you gotten yours?

For more information on where to get the flu shot, call the Onondaga County Health Department at (315) 435-2000.