As the weather gets colder, not only does the need to increase the heat a little bit rise, but the instances of the flu go up as well.

For anyone that has been affected by the flu, most cases would turn him or her into the biggest cheerleaders for getting vaccinated with the flu shot. However, a large portion of the population simply rejects getting the vaccination.

The national percentage of those 18 years of age and older who choose to get the flu shot is 43.6 percent. The state of Ohio is a fraction higher at 43.8 percent. That means that more than half the residents in the country choose not to get a flu shot.

It is a full-proof certainty that you won’t get the flu after receiving the vaccination? No, but it does help lessen the affects the illness brings in most cases for those who get the flu shot.

The flu doesn’t discriminate with age, race or gender, as it will hit several hundred thousand residents around the United States this year.

There are several options available in Lawrence County to get a low-cost flu shot that includes local health departments, doctors’ offices and pharmacies.

Simply doing the math should show there are several thousand motivations for someone to take a proactive approach with this potentially fatal illness.