Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A 3D graphical representation of the biology and structure of a generic influenza virus.

Flu season isn’t officially here yet. The season doesn’t officially kickoff until early October, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get vaccinated.

Jessica Rigler is with the Arizona Department of Health. She says while a vaccine is available in nasal spray and injected versions, one is much more effective than the other.

"This year, the only flu vaccines that are expected to effective are the injectables," said Rigler. "Nasal flu vaccine is not recommended. After several years of reviewing the data, our federal partners have identified nasal flu vaccine is not effective at preventing the flu."

The Centers for Disease Control found the effectiveness of the nasal spray among children ages 2 through 17 during the 2015-2016 flu season was 3 percent, compared to 63 percent for the injected vaccine.