If there’s one thing you can count on from year to year, it’s another flu season.

You don’t want to get the flu—it’s a miserable experience. And you might not have to. Getting a flu vaccine each fall can nearly cut your risk in half.

Everyone 6 months and older needs a yearly flu vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. Getting vaccinated is even more important if you or someone you live with is at higher risk for complications from the flu.

This group includes older adults; pregnant women; young children; and people with chronic health problems, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or cancer.

People in high-risk groups are more vulnerable to flu complications. They may become very sick if they get the flu. Some may have to go to a hospital.

But remember: Almost everyone should get a new flu vaccine every year. Even healthy people can get sick and pass it on. And past vaccines won’t protect you because flu viruses always change.

It takes two weeks to build immunity to the flu virus. So try to get vaccinated by the end of before Thanksgiving. That way your body will be ready to fight the flu when it gets here.

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