Health experts say getting a flu vaccine now is the key to preventing the virus.

The flu is known to spread fast and hit children particularly hard because they're still building up their immune systems.

The Center for Disease Control says 170 children died from the flu in the U.S. last year.

Melissa Perez at Docs Urgent Care in Bridgeport says cases of flu can crop up in Connecticut as early as the flu, and that they have shots ready to go. 

The CDC issued a statement this week noting that the first flu outbreaks can happen as early as October.