The body aches, the hospital visits and the painful prick of the needle, all really annoying parts of the flu season.

Dr. Devin Minor with Banner Health says flu season hasn’t hit Arizona full blown just yet but he’s starting to see some signs of it.

“We call them influenza like illness. So, they may have a mild cough or congestion and mild fever—some with body aches,” says Minor.

Doctor Minor says there’s simple things you can do to keep your family safe: Everyone between ages 6 months to the elderly should get a shot, cough into your arm to avoid spreading it, obviously wash your hands often. If you’re pregnant you should get your flu shot. If you’re sick stay home from school or work.

Okay…so what about getting the flu shot too early?

“I recommend getting it earlier because it takes a few weeks for that flu shot to really become effective. You don’t want to wait until the middle of the flu season because you don’t know when the peak season will be. Flu shot doesn’t typically wear off,” says Minor.

So we can verify that it’s never too early to get a flu shot. In fact the earlier the better.

“You’re not going to eliminate the flu 100 percent. But it will reduce the probability of getting the flu. If you do get the flu it will reduce the severity of the symptoms,” says Minor.

Minor says it doesn't look like this year's flu season will be as severe as 2017 but predicting its how hard it will it is impossible. The best thing you can do is if you're feeling flu symptoms come see a doctor. Banner Health had more than 40 urgent care centers in the Phoenix metro area.