With an uptick in flu infections and a new strain at play, getting vaccinated now is key, experts say.

The flu shot provides crucial lifesaving protection against severe illness and prevents spreading the flu to your loved ones, according to the American Lung Association. In Michigan, influenza, or flu , cases are on the rise and a new variant, subclade K, has arisen, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a Dec. 2 news release.

In Michigan, only 21% of the population has been vaccinated this season, about 2.1 million people, according to an MDHHS dashboard.

"The flu vaccine may not prevent mild illness, but data shows it reduces severe complications of influenza, including hospitalization, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executiv

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