Flu season typically runs from October through April.

Washing your hands thoroughly and often, avoiding people who are sick, and wearing a mask can help, but the flu vaccine is considered the most effective weapon against the virus.

KERA’s Sam Baker talks with Dr. Natalia Gutierrez , a Family Medicine physician with Texas Health Plano and Texas Health Physicians Group, about this year's vaccine.

Dr. Gutierrez: This year, we have three main strains that are going to be covered by the flu vaccine. They're called H1N1, H3N2, and B1. This is a whole different new vaccine that we have this year.

You have the same dose from six months to about 64 years old, and then a higher dose for those 65 and over.

We have the flu mist back, which is the nasal spray, and that's only for those two

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