FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2014 file photo, a sign telling customers that they can get a flu shot in a Walgreen store is seen in Indianapolis. Kids may get more of a sting from flu vaccination this fall: Doctors are gearing up to give shots only, because U.S. health officials say the easy-to-use nasal spray version of the vaccine isn't working as well as a jab. Needle-phobic adults still have some less painful options. But FluMist, with its squirt into each nostril, was the only ouch-free alternative for children, and has accounted for about a third of pediatric flu vaccinations in recent years. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

It’s the season for giving — the cold and flu, that is.

Local health officials are offering advice and tips to those looking to stay healthy and away from the sneezing and coughing this holiday season.

The timing and severity of the flu, a contagious respiratory illness, can be unpredictable year-to-year. But it’s usually prevalent during the late stages of fall and winter months, according to health officials.

While the New York State Department of Health hasn’t deemed it severe flu season yet, Emelia Lindquist Harley, nursing director for UPMC Chautauqua WCA, said there have been reported cases. Lindquist said people of all ages should be getting the flu vaccine. Young children, the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women are among those highly recommended to get a yearly flu shot.

“Influenza is a respiratory disease that can be very lethal,” she said. “It’s upper respiratory and it’s just like having a nasty cold. If you’re healthy and carrying it, you can share germs with someone with a compromised immune status.”

Lindquist said the flu shot reduces the severity of the illness if people should capture it. Available vaccines protect against three or four different strains of the flu virus. One of the biggest misconceptions about the vaccine is getting the flu from it, she said.

“You can’t get the flu from the flu shot,” Lindquist said. “That’s almost every single person who gets the flu shot. They say I always get the flu when I get the flu shot.”

As long as the flu is spreading and causing illness, the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services says it’s not too late to get vaccinated — even if it’s January or later. If people have already been sick with the flu this season, county health officials say it’s still a good idea to get vaccinated. The flu virus can vary from mild to severe, which can lead to hospitalizations and sometimes death.

“One of the greatest challenges we face from the flu is the uncertainty of the disease, said Christine Schuyler, county Health and Human Services commissioner. “Flu viruses are constantly changing. Different flu viruses spread and can affect people differently based on their body’s ability to fight infection.”

The flu vaccine can cause mild side effects that can be mistaken for the flu, according to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. People who get vaccinated could experience achiness. Those who received the nasal spray vaccine may get a stuffy nose and a sore throat, but they’re not side effects to the flu. County officials say vaccines are available at the local health department, doctors offices and pharmacies.

Lindquist said those who qualify for the flu vaccine should also get a pneumonia shot. Pneumonia is a lung infection that begins when people breathe germs into their lungs. People are more susceptible to the sickness after having a cold or the flu. Common symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

“Pneumonia is a totally different organism than the flu,” she said. “Most doctors recommend getting it. It’s something we tend to take seriously.”

For those looking to avoid the cold, Lindquist said staying healthy by eating right and getting enough sleep are things to consider. One of the more effective tools to reduce the spread of the flu and cold is handwashing, Lindquist said.

“Common sense things like avoiding people or big crowds who are coughing and sneezing are important,” she said. “If you’re ill, stay home and don’t spread it to anybody. The healthier you are in terms of good nutrition, exercise and sleep, the less likely you are to catch bugs.”

Lindquist said antibiotics aren’t effective against viruses and only creates organisms within the immune system that become resistant. Lindquist said viruses are fought off by the immune system, which often leads to a rise in temperature along with feelings of achiness and sickness.

“A lot of times, people come to the emergency room and are upset when we say they have an upper respiratory infection and we’re not giving them an antibiotic,” Lindquist said. “It’s influenza. We’re not going to treat people with an antibiotic. Basically, the body does the work to kill that virus.”

Motrin and Tylenol can be given to help the aches and pains. For the flu, Tamiflu can be administered, but it’s only effective during a certain timeframe when symptoms appear.

Health officials say to call the doctor’s office, a pharmacist or a health care professional for more information about the influenza or the flu vaccine. People can also visit visit www.cdc.gov/flu, or call the Chautauqua County’s Public Health Division at 1-866-604-6789 for more information.