Anyone who has ever had the flu knows that it is far more than just feeling a little under the weather.

Most flu sufferers become the biggest advocates for vaccinations. But, surprisingly, many Americans still refuse to be proactive and take the fight to the germs before a sickness ever begins.

Although it certainly isn’t a 100 percent guarantee that the flu won’t hit you, it greatly increases the chances of staying healthy this season.

For just a few dollars, every citizen can go a long way toward protecting themselves from the flu and H1N1, the strain that infected many in 2009 and created a near panic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. Estimates of flu-associated deaths range from a low of about 3,000 a year to as high as 49,000 people.

Senior citizens, young children, pregnant women and individuals with certain health conditions are considered high risk for serious flu complications, but health experts are now urging everyone to get the vaccine.

Both the Ironton and the Lawrence County health departments are offering vaccinations everyday.

Gauged on the sheer numbers of those who get sick each year, there are thousands of reasons to be proactive.