(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The time has come to say goodbye to summer. The changing of the season brings on many familiar occurrences, such as kids going back to school, the falling leaves from neighborhood trees or even feeling a new crispness in the air.  These are all indicators that its time to visit your doctor for your seasonal flu shot.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Influenza, otherwise known as the flu, occurs annually from October through May and is spread by coughing, sneezing or a runny nose. Getting vaccinated will help avoid or lessen the symptoms of the flu, which include: fever/chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache and a runny or stuffy nose.

“The benefit of flu vaccines have been proven over and over,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “With the three strains of flu that are circulating in many parts of the world today, chances are you will come down with one of them if you do not get vaccinated.”

The Center for Disease Control and Dr. Arteaga recommend a yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protection against the flu. Vaccines are available in two forms. The most common is the flu shot, an injected vaccine. A nasal spray vaccine is also available as an alternative for most people ages 2 to 49.

Flu viruses are constantly changing. It’s not unusual for new flu virus strains to appear each year. As a result, it is extremely important that you get vaccinated or a booster shot each year, as a new flu vaccine is made each year to protect against the three flu viruses that research indicates are most likely to cause illness during the current flu season.

Contrary to what some might think, the virus in the flu shot is inactive. Therefore, you cannot get the flu from a flu shot.

While young children, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions are especially at risk of complications from the flu, it is recommended that everyone, ages 6 months and older, receive a seasonal flu vaccination.

The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, (909) 823-4454; 1505 West 17th St, (909) 887-6494, and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave., (909) 884-9091 in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia, (760) 947-2161.

For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.