The Iowa Department of Public Health is reminding Iowans to get flu vaccinations to protect against catching influenza this cold season. There have been a handful of hospitalizations already although activity level remains minimal in Iowa. Lynn Fisher with Washington County Public Health says there have been no cases of the flu reported locally.

On average 300,000 Iowans get the flu every year and according to Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, IDPH medical director, the flu and its complication of pneumonia cause an average of 1,000 deaths yearly in Iowa.