RHINELANDER - Flu season is officially upon us. This year there are a number of vaccine options, even for those who hate needles.

The Oneida County Health Department recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot every year.

"Basically each year they look at the circulating strains around the world and decide, ok what do we guess is going to circulate in the United States and that's how they come up with the formula each year's seasonal flu shot," says Anne Ovsak, Assistant Director of the Onieda County Health Department.

If you're not a fan of needles though, there's no need to fear. A new microneedle may be an option. It's less than one tenth of an inch long. A nasal spray vaccine is also available, which may protect you even better.

"The difference between the mist and the and shot, the flu-mist is a live virus vaccine, so it's possible that you could get a little bit of the flu, or not. Some studies have shown that there's better protection against the flu by getting the live vaccine," says Ovsak.

A major reason health officials want you to get the shot, is to protect others who can't.

It's important to protect people in our community, in your own household, some people in your household may not be able to get the flu shot, so it's important that you protect them"

But the biggest vaccination motivation is quite simple…

"It is way worse to get the flu than it is to get the shot!" says Ovsak.

Story By: Kailey Burton