Flu season isn't here yet, but it's not too soon to get your flu shot.

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State health commissioner Gregory Larkin says there's no reason to fear a vaccination now will have worn off by the time the flu bug starts making the rounds. The vaccine's protection lasts for years -- the reason you need a new one each year is because each year's vaccine is tailored to the specific strains of flu expected to be prevalent in the upcoming season.

Larkin says he's confident the vaccine has accurately targeted this year's flu strains that will be prevalent this year, but says the state is prepared if there's a flu outbreak that's not covered by the vaccine, like the swine flu a few years ago. He says hospitals immediately report patients showing flu-like symptoms that don't match the expected strains.

Even with the vaccine, he says you should still take standard health precautions like hand-washing, covering your mouth when you cough, and staying home if you're sick.