Doctors Urge Flu Shots As Season Begins

BOSTON (CBS) --- Lisa Gordon rolled up her sleeve for a flu shot Monday, finally prompted by a Center for Disease report that flu is now widespread in Massachusetts. 

"I've been meaning to get one for a while so I drove by and said 'let's get this done today,'" Gordon said.

At the Urgent Care in Needham, Dr. Arnold Soslow is just beginning to see the rush of patients.

"People will come in with the traditional mix of flu-like symptoms; headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, cough or sore throat," Soslow said.

This year's outbreak is about three or four weeks behind last year's. But there are still plenty of cases being reported.

It's still early in the season so doctors are recommending people get vaccinated sooner rather than later.

One dose is about 96-percent effective against the virus but it takes a few weeks for your immunity to kick in.

Meanwhile, Zach Pearson is back at work after a nasty bout of the flu that included a 103-degree fever, aches, pains and fatigue.

"It honestly felt like I'd been beat up," he said.

It's a feeling he never wants again.

"I would probably get a flu shot if I could go back and do it again," Pearson said.