Flu season in the area has been the worst it has been years, the Star Telegram reports, and, according to school nurses Hatice Tedder and Danielle Barnes, it’s just as bad at school.

“This is my 5th year as a School Nurse for the district and by far the worst flu season that I have experienced,” nurse Danielle Barnes said.

Even though the flu shot this year was only 10% effective, it’s never too late to get a flu shot and it is still recommended. Brookshire’s Pharmacy in Aledo, Walmart Supercenter in Hudson Oaks, Walgreens in Hudson Oaks, and Kroger Pharmacy in Fort Worth are just a few places that still offer the vaccines. About 100 students at the freshman center and 400 students at the high school got the shot at the school in October. According to the nurses, it’s better to get it early, but it’s still a good idea to go ahead and get the vaccine now. The best time to get the shot is around October, when students were given the option to get it at the school.

“The good news is that if you did get your flu shot and still end up catching the flu, it’s likely that your symptoms will be much milder than if you had not received the vaccine,” Barnes said. “You can still receive the flu shot, but it does take about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection from the flu.”

Flu season usually starts around October and can last as long as through May. It’s a time marked by frequent hand-washing and other attempts to stay away from sickness. Even though there’s not a sure way to avoid it completely, there are things to do so it’s less likely to catch the sickness. It’s also important for students to avoid spreading the flu if they have it.

“Easy ways to prevent catching the flu include frequent hand-washing using soap and warm water, covering your cough using the bend of your elbow rather than your hands, not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, not sharing food or drinks, frequently wiping down surfaces that may be contaminated with germs, and if you are sick STAY HOME to avoid coming into contact with others,” Barnes said. “It is recommended that you stay home until your fever has subsided for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medicines. Stay safe Bearcat Nation!”